Amherst man gets 11 years for role in cocaine ring
An Amherst man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to 11 years in prison Tuesday on a cocaine-trafficking conviction.
Jeremy Hall, 34, was one of 23 people charged in 2009 with operating a large-scale cocaine distribution ring at several bars in Niagara County and the northern suburbs of Erie County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe said Hall distributed at least 110 pounds of cocaine to customers between 2004 and 2009.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Niagara County Drug Task Force and Niagara Falls and Amherst police.
Illegally tinted windows lead police to gun discovery
The Erie County Sheriff’s Strike Force Unit stopped a vehicle for having illegally tinted windows in the City of Buffalo on Monday night and later arrested its driver for possessing a rifle with a cut-off barrel and stock, officials reported.
Keeon D. Colvin, 19, of Cheektowaga, was charged with two counts of felony criminal weapons possession, along with traffic tickets, according to sheriff’s reports.
Deputies Matt Fuqua and Jason Breinlinger stopped the vehicle on Rodney Avenue shortly after 8:15 p.m. After they found some marijuana debris in the ashtray, the deputies said, they searched the vehicle and found the modified .45-caliber rifle in the trunk.
Disbarred attorney aims to withdraw fraud plea
David Dale, the disbarred Buffalo attorney and former Erie County legislator, is trying to withdraw his guilty plea to charges that he defrauded clients and practiced law after being disbarred.
State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns listened to about half an hour of arguments on that motion Tuesday, before adjourning the hearing until 9:30 a.m. next Wednesday. At that time, Dale must determine whether he can get a new attorney, get someone to help him or represent himself on the motion.
Dale is trying to find a new attorney to replace his most recent one, Thomas J. Eoannou. During the afternoon part of the hearing Tuesday, the client and attorney clashed on several issues, and it seemed clear that Eoannou would not remain Dale’s attorney.
“We’re not going to delay this interminably,” Burns said before adjourning the proceeding.
When Dale pleaded guilty in June, prosecutors said he admitted stealing money from clients by pretending he was still permitted to provide legal services, several years after his 2005 disbarment.
Clarence man, 52, accused of raping teenage girl
A 52-year-old Clarence man was charged with raping a teenage girl last weekend, Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced Tuesday.
James Hatok, of Main Street, was arrested Sunday night without incident after Senior Detective James Hatch interviewed him at his residence. Hatok was charged with second-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Hatok was arraigned Monday in front of Clarence Town Justice Robert Sillars and is being held at the Erie County Holding Center in lieu of $50,000 bail. He is due back in court Thursday.
Depew man gets 2 years in Oxycontin scheme
Kevin Hinca, 20, of Depew, was ordered to serve a 24-month prison term by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny on Tuesday on his conviction for conspiring to import Oxycontin tablets into the United States from Canada.
Hinca was arrested last Oct. 12 after an investigation into the illegal importation of prescription drugs from Canada into the United States. That day, authorities said, Hinca took delivery of 125 Oxycontin tablets at a parking lot on Broadway in Depew. The tablets were illegally imported over the Peace Bridge earlier in the day.
Federal prosecutors said Hinca obtained illegally imported Oxycontin tablets on several other occasions and then resold them on the street.
Amherst residents warned about magazine salesman
Amherst residents, especially those in the Getzville Road area, were warned by Amherst police to beware of door-to-door magazine subscription offers touted by a blonde-haired, college-aged man who Friday was pushing what he claimed were subscriptions to be sent to American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.
Police said their initial investigation indicated the man does not live in the Amherst area and “it appears that he is misrepresenting himself as a local college student.”
Police stressed that homeowners should not let unsolicited sales people into their homes, even if they just ask to use the phone. Residents also were warned not to write checks for purchases or give them cash.
Anyone who sees solicitors in their neighborhood is encouraged to contact the police at 689-1311.
