Lockport man sentenced on drug charge

        BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Torano Spencer, 37, of Lockport, N.Y., who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine and cocaine base, was sentenced to three years probation with three months electronic monitoring by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who handled the case, stated that between June 2009 and August 2010, Spencer distributed cocaine and cocaine base in the Lockport area which was supplied to him by co-defendant Eric Williams. Spencer is one of the 22 defendants convicted as a result of this drug investigation.

The conviction is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, and the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Votour.