FBI Announces Narcotics Arrests

Today, Richard W. Kollmar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, announces the arrests of 11 individuals on federal charges involving narcotics trafficking. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officers executed four federal and two state search warrants at locations in Buffalo, New York, and Sloan, New York

Today’s arrests and searches stem from a long term, joint investigation by the FBI Buffalo Division Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF). The federal charges are detailed in an eight count indictment, which includes allegations of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana; the possession and distribution of cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana; and maintaining a drug involved premises.

The defendants have initial appearances today in front of the Honorable United States Magistrate Hugh B. Scott. This matter will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. McCabe, under the direction of United States Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr.

It should be noted that the fact that an individual has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation; the individual is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

DEFENDANT’S NAME

DATE OF BIRTH

ADDRESS

1.   Charles “Kris” Palmer

 12/31/1963

 East Ferry, Buffalo

2.   George Krajas

 10/10/1968

 Griffith, Sloan

3.   Vunnal Blair

 03/23/1956

 Florida St, Buffalo

4.   Aleathea Stone

 10/19/1971

 Alma, Buffalo

5.   Charles Palmer, Jr.

 10/13/1983

 Person St, Buffalo

6.   Gregory Miller

 12/25/1964

 East Parade, Buffalo

7.   Christopher Carluccio

 06/30/1974

 Cazenovia St, Buffalo

8.   Michael Smerka

 11/18/1956

 Ryan St, Buffalo

9.   William “Bart” Alexander

 07/02/1964

 Fillmore Ave, Buffalo

10.  James Simmons

 05/05/1974

 Maple Ave, Machias

11. Timothy Borkowski

 04/22/1967

 Hammerschmidt, Buffalo

SEARCH WARRANT RESIDENCE/BUSINESS

2307 Broadway, Sloan

 AJ Auto Sales 

226 Griffith, Sloan

 George Krajas

218 East Ferry, Buffalo

 Charles Palmer

263 Florida St, Buffalo

 Vunnal Blair

581 Goodyear Ave, Buffalo*

 

500 Goodyear Ave, Buffalo*

 

*State search warrants

THE FBI—Safe Streets Task Force is comprised of:

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

New York State Police

New York State Parole

Erie County Sheriff’s Office

Erie County Probation Department

Buffalo Police Department

Amherst Police Department

Cheektowaga Police Department

In addition to the SSTF members, the following agencies assisted with today’s arrests and searches:

United States Marshals Service

Drug Enforcement Administration

Erie County District Attorney’s Office

West Seneca Police Department

Former Town of West Seneca Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Conviction

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Sean Kelley, 30, of West Seneca, New York, was sentenced to six months in prison and six months home detention for his conviction on deprivation of civil rights under color of law before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that the case arose when the defendant, at the time a police officer with the West Seneca Police Department, was in a restaurant with his wife. The victim, referred to as “J.Y.,” made a comment to friends which was apparently overheard by Kelley, and to which Kelley took offense. The victim immediately apologized to Kelley and bought him and his wife drinks, allowing the victim to believe he could resume dining in the restaurant.

Thereafter, Kelley contacted two on-duty West Seneca police officers and requested their assistance at the restaurant. When the on-duty officers arrived, Kelley got up from his seat and grabbed J.Y. from behind by his coat collar. Kelley forced the victim to a back parking lot outside, where according to the victim, Kelley put his hands around the victim’s throat and proceeded to choke him. The victim stated that he did not feel he could resist the attack because of the presence of the two West Seneca police officers, who were also outside observing the assault.

The precise charge for which Kelley was convicted makes it a crime for anyone who, acting under color of law and without lawful authority, restrains and applies physical force to another, thereby willfully depriving a person of rights secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including the right to be free from unreasonable seizure and the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force.

U.S. Attorney Hochul said the plea was conditioned on the defendant also pleading guilty in Erie County Court to a count of attempted assault in the second degree, a class E felony. This offense, which is being handled by the Office of Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita, related to the defendant’s assault of a Buffalo police officer after Kelley had been charged and released on bail for his attack on J.Y. As a result of that assault, the defendant’s bail was revoked and the defendant had been incarcerated in federal custody since September 22, 2010.

Assistant United States Attorney Anthony M. Bruce assisted in the prosecution of the case. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar.