Central Square Man Sentenced for Threatening to Kill His Family

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced that WAYNE BOUYEA, 50, of Central Square, was sentenced today in federal court pursuant to his previous pleas of guilty to seven counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce and to possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

In November 2010, BOUYEA pled guilty in federal court to sending, via the Internet, e-mails threatening to kill his estranged wife, his stepdaughter, and his two minor children, all of whom had moved out of state, and to unlawfully possessing 10 firearms as a convicted felon. Today, Hon. David N. Hurd, United States District Court Judge, sentenced BOUYEA to serve 10 years in federal prison as a result of his conviction. Upon completion of his term of incarceration, BOUYEA will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.

By his plea, BOUYEA admitted that in the e-mail correspondence, he had threatened to travel to the college campus his stepdaughter was attending, find his family, and kill all of them. BOUYEA’s wife reported the threats to campus police, and due to their quick response, both the New York State Police and the FBI became involved. BOUYEA was quickly apprehended. In addition to the firearms and ammunition seized from his residence at the time of his arrest, forensic analysis of his computer revealed that BOUYEA had used the Internet several times to research driving directions to the state and college campus where his stepdaughter attends school, and that he had also visited the university website, and obtained a total of 17 map images of the area and of the university itself.

BOUYEA’s arrest was the result of an investigation by the New York State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Utica Police Department, Digital Forensics Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher, who can be reached at 448-0672.

Utica Drug Gang Member Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announces that WHITNEY FOWLER, age 32, Utica, New York, was sentenced in Syracuse yesterday by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Norman A. Mordue to 15 years imprisonment for his role as a member of a Utica-based drug trafficking gang.

FOWLER previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. As part of his plea FOWLER admitted to being involved with a Utica-based drug organization known as Branch Off Productions ("BOP"). FOWLER was identified through wire intercepts and related surveillance as a Utica one of the primary drug dealers in this organization who routinely sold large quantities of cocaine to others in the Utica area.

The prosecution of BOP resulted from an investigation undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, and the Oneida County Drug Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the Utica Police Department, the Oneida County Sheriff's Department, the Rome Police Department, and the New Hartford Police Department.

To date, the following items have been recovered during this investigation: approximately $23,000 in U.S. currency; more than half a kilogram of cocaine; approximately 125 grams of crack cocaine; four handguns; and three long-barreled firearms. Agents have also seized the following nine vehicles, all of which are alleged to have been used to facilitate the organization's drug trafficking activities: (1) 2004 Acura TL; (2) 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor; (3) 2003 Honda Accord; (4) 2004 Honda Accord; (5) 2002 Chevy Trail Blazer; (6) 2005 Jeep Cherokee; (7) 2002 Ford Explorer; (8) 2004 Mercedes-Benz; and (9) 2005 Acura TL.

Further inquiries can be directed to Assistant U. S. Attorney John M. Katko, Syracuse, New York at (315) 448-0916.