Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Production Of Child Pornography

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael Milton, Sr., 42, of Buffalo, NY pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on August 14, 2015, the defendant coerced a 17 year-old minor (Victim 1) to engage in sexual intercourse and oral sexual activity inside a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicle that Milton owned at the time. The defendant also produced visual depictions of the sexual activity using a cellular telephone which were then were stored a hard drive. The investigation determined that Milton engaged in sexual contact with Victim 1 on various occasions between at least December 21, 2014, and November 6, 2015. During that sexual contact, the defendant used his cellular telephone and a camera to create images and videos of Victim 1 engaging in sexually explicit conduct which he stored on different electronic storage devices.

Milton was previously convicted of Rape in Erie County Court involving Victim 1 and another minor female.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Kevin P. Lyons, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

Member of 10th Street Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charges

BUFFALO—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Christopher Pabon, 23, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations conspiracy (RICO conspiracy). The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who handled the case, stated that from 2000 through 2010, Christopher Pabon was a member or an associate of the 10th Street Gang. As a part of his involvement in the gang, the defendant, along with other members and associates of the gang, possessed firearms and sold marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin on the West Side of Buffalo, New York. As part of his plea of guilty, Pabon also admitted that on April 17, 2006, he gave a loaded handgun to a fellow gang member, knowing that the fellow gang member and others in the gang were going to shoot at rival 7th Street Gang members. The subsequent shooting resulted in the deaths of Brandon McDonald and Darinell Young, as well as injuries to other individuals.

Christopher Pabon was indicted along with 34 other 10th Street Gang members or associates. He is the 17th defendant to be convicted.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of investigators of the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Daniel Derenda; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Charges Stemming from L.R.G.P. Gang Investigation

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph Martin, 23, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty plea before District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distribution of crack cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000, fine or both.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, the guilty plea follows a lengthy investigation into the drug trafficking activities of the L.R.G.P. Gang on Buffalo’s East Side. The defendant sold crack cocaine at a residence maintained by L.R.G.P. Gang members on Memorial Drive in Buffalo’s Broadway/Fillmore area. Martin was arrested along with 14 other members and associates in January 2012. He is the first to be convicted.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

Sentencing is for January 11, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

Member of 10th Street Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charges

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jimmy Sessions, 26, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who handled the case, stated that from 2000 to 2010, the defendant was a member of the 10th Street Gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in racketeering activity. As a part of his involvement in the 10th Street Gang, Sessions, along with other members and associates of the gang, sold cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances on the West Side of Buffalo, New York. The defendant possessed firearms with other 10th Street Gang members and conspired to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine and over 280 grams of crack cocaine as a part of the affairs of the 10th Street Gang.

Jimmy Sessions was indicted along with 34 other 10th Street Gang members or associates. He is the 16th defendant to be convicted.

“Today’s development represents yet another step in our effort to combat gangs operating in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who would harm our community through gang activity are brought to justice.”

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Christopher M. Piehota, Special Agent in Charge; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 10 , 2013, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

Member of 10th Street Gang Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Luther Jones, 20, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to attempted murder in aid of racketeering. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a member of the 10th Street Gang. As a part of his involvement in the gang, Jones, along with other members and associates of the gang, attempted to murder rival gang members identified as L.M. and K.R. during a drive-by style shooting on March 20, 2012, in the vicinity of Trenton Avenue and Hudson Street on the West Side of Buffalo. The defendant is the 15th member or associate to plead guilty in connection with the prosecution of the 10th Street Gang.

“Our office is committed to ridding our community of organized groups of individuals who fill the streets with illegal narcotics and the violence often associated with them,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “In the last year, we have made dozens of arrests of members and associates of not only the 10th Street Gang, but other gangs as well. Those efforts will continue as we work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners at all levels of government.”

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Investigators of the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Daniel Derenda; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 30, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.