Batavia Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Andrew Chapman, 42, of Batavia, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that between April 2010 and July 2010, a joint federal, state, and local investigation revealed that the defendant was responsible for obtaining quantities of methamphetamine from a supplier in LeRoy and then distributing the methamphetamine with others on numerous occasions.

The defendant received the methamphetamine from Donald G. Vanelli, II, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in January 2011. Vanelli was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Donna Boon and David H. Cohen have been indicted for their roles in the conspiracy and are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gary T. Maha; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division; the New York State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Joseph D’Amico, the city of Batavia Police Department, under the direction of Chief Randy Baker; and the Village of LeRoy Police Department, under the direction of Chief Christopher K. Hayward.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. before Judge Siragusa.

Members and Associates of South Side Flint Street Gang Charged with Racketeering and Other Acts of Violence

Multiple state and federal charges against 22 Flint-area men were announced today by United States Attorney Barbara McQuade and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.

U.S. Attorney McQuade and Genesee County Prosecutor Leyton were joined in the announcement by FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena; ATF Special Agent in Charge David McCain, Special Agent in Charge Robert Corso, United States Drug Enforcement Administration; City of Flint Police Chief Alvern Lock; Michigan State Police Captain Rick Arnold; and Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.

A 34-count indictment, unsealed in Flint today, charges 12 individuals, who are alleged to be members and associates of the Howard Boys street gang, with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy and also includes charges of murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, distribution of drugs, and various federal firearms violations, announced United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. An additional 10 individuals were charged by the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office with crimes including murder, conspiracy to commit murder and assault with intent to murder.

Named in the federal indictment were:

■DECLYDE P. BREWTON, a.k.a. BG, Baby Gangsta

■WILLIE J. CHAMBERS, a.k.a. Smalls, Mally

■SEAN V. CUNNINGHAM, a.k.a. Lil Sean, Lil Jig, Lil Hitman

■JAMIL CURETON, a.k.a. LB, Boo Boo

■MALCOLM J. EVANS, a.k.a. Lil Malc, Stay Strap

■MARKUS G. EVANS, a.k.a. FA, K

■LEON GILLS, a.k.a. LeLe, Ahki, Gunman, Leges

■CARVELL J. GORDON, a.k.a. 6-9, Vell, C-Vell

■ALEXANDRA L. NORWOOD, a.k.a. Al

■JOHNATHAN L. OLDHAM, a.k.a. John Boy, JB, LJ

■JATIMOTHY E. WALKER, a.k.a. JT, Lil Money, Jet, J-Money

■JONATHAN E. WALKER, a.k.a. J-Nutty

The following individuals have been charged in state court with various related violations of state law announced Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton:

■PAKI L. BONNER

■TARON M. BROWN

■KEVIN L. BUIE

■JAMEL O. CHEEKS

■JAMES M. ELBERT

■RODRICK T. JACKSON

■VINCENT T. MCGLORY

■DARRYL D. SCOTT

■EDDIE L. WILLIAMS

■CHARLES T. ORR

The federal indictment and related state charges are the result of a multi-year investigation conducted by the Genesee County Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is comprised of special agents from the FBI and officers from the City of Flint, troopers from the Michigan State Police, and deputies from the Genesee County Sheriff Department. Working closely with the task force during the investigation were special agents from the ATF and DEA as well as members of the Flint Area Narcotics Group (FANG).

As alleged in the indictment, the Howard Boys, also known as the “Hot Boys,” “Howard Block,” and “Murda Ville,” was a criminal enterprise which operated on the south side of Flint, in and around the Howard Estates public housing complex, since approximately 2002. Members of the enterprise and their associates are alleged to have committed acts of violence in order to maintain control over and to protect their territory and to further the members’ and associates’ distribution of controlled substances. Members and associates of the enterprise are also alleged to have used threats, possessed weapons, and committed assaults, attempted murders, and murders to promote their authority, reputation and standing in the enterprise.

The federal indictment charges all 12 defendants with a racketeering conspiracy, which includes the commission of three murders, five attempted murders, and numerous acts of drug dealing. Additionally, individual defendants have been charged with committing murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and use of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a felon, dealing in firearms without a license, and distributions of cocaine base. The indictment outlines a number of specific criminal allegations relating to crimes on the south side of Flint attributed to the gang’s activity.

“We are hopeful that this prosecution will restore safety and security in the neighborhood where this gang operated,” McQuade said. “We also want criminals to know that if they commit crimes with guns in Flint, they will be prosecuted federally, where the sentences are long and there is no parole.”

“We in law enforcement will not concede to the criminal element in our never-ending pursuit of safety and security for our citizens,” said Prosecutor Leyton.

“Working together, local, state, and federal authorities can make significant progress in the fight against crime. The next step in the process is for prosecutors to hold these individuals accountable in a court of law,” Leyton said.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Arena stated, “This dangerous street gang was responsible for numerous acts of violence that robbed citizens of their safety and sense of security. These indictments are the result of countless hours of hard work, and serve as a reminder we will be relentless in bringing these criminals to justice. We remain dedicated to dismantling these criminal enterprises together with the assistance of our task force partners.”

The federal government’s case is being prosecuted by Flint branch of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Genesee County Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine Trafficking Case

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Donald G. Vanelli II, 48, of LeRoy, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 210 months in prison and fined $1,000 U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who handled the case, stated that the defendant, who was a member of the Road Agents Motorcycle Club in Edgerton, New York, obtained between five and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from drug suppliers. He then distributed those drugs to numerous others in the Genesee County and Monroe County areas between 2004 and July, 2010. Also during that time, Vanelli had firearms, including a loaded 9mm rifle, at his residence and other locations. As part of his sentence, Judge Siragusa ordered the defendant to forfeit to the government the 9mm rifle, a 9mm magazine, and 78 rounds of 9mm ammunition that were seized from his LeRoy residence at the time of his arrest.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar; the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gary T. Maha; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Dale M. Kasprzyk; the New York State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Joseph D’Amico; the City of Batavia Police Department, under the direction of Chief Randy Baker; and the Village of LeRoy Police Department, under the direction of Chief Christopher K. Hayward.