The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.Īttorney General Spitzer praised the cooperation of the various law enforcement agencies and said: The defendants were arraigned today before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. Chudzik could face nine years in state prison. Chudzik, 49, of Lake View, was also arrested and charged in a felony complaint with Conspiracy in the Second Degree. Guzzo could face ten years in state prison. He was charged in a felony complaint with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class "A" felony. Each defendant faces up to nine years in state prison.įrank Guzzo, 36, of Grand Island, was also arrested. Castillo, 26 and Ruben "Peco" Rivera, 30, all of Buffalo, they are alleged to have sold heroin and cocaine to an undercover police officer at various locations throughout Erie County and face charges of Criminal Sale and Possession of a Controlled Substance.Ī Grand Jury also indicted Mercado for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class "A" misdemeanor, for allegedly possessing and selling cocaine to an undercover officer in front of a child.
The arrested defendants in those cases are:įernando"Guayo" Mercado, 28 Jose "Josian" Gautier, 26 Carmen Vazquez, 27
The other seven indictments allege conduct occurring between August 2005, and December, 2005. If convicted of the most serious charges, Billy Vazquez could face 20 years in state prison all other defendants could face up to nine years in state prison. During the course of the investigation, police recovered over one kilogram of heroin with an estimated street value of $250,000 and over 60 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $6,500. The indictment charges Vazquez, with supplying heroin to Heriberto Rodriquez who along with Maria Perez, Jesus Verdejo and Luis Luna would store, cut, package and sell the drugs from a residence and garage in Riverside and another residence in South Buffalo. Heriberto "Eddie" Rodriguez, 31 Maria "Milly" Perez, 30 Luis "Wichie" Montanez, 27 Emmanuel "Manny" Santos, 23 Omar Montanez, 24 Andres "Papito" Gilbert, 20 Jesus Verdejo, 22 Luis "Piloto" Luna, 18 Jose "Flaco" Vega, 41 Raymond Torres, 35 Joann Bedell-Torres, 46 Ruben Miranda, 29 Lorrie Main, 38 Patrick Szczygiel, 36 all of Buffalo.Īlso charged are: Lisa Callara, 34, of Medina Ryan Smith, 25, of Niagara Falls Dave Uebelhoer, 35, of Cheektowaga and Billy Vazquez, 21, of Rochester. The various charges against these individuals include Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class "A" felony Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance all are class "B" felonies.
In the largest indictment, it is alleged that since November 2004, 19 defendants collectively possessed and sold heroin and cocaine in Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties. Subsequent investigation, including the use of court-authorized wiretaps and undercover work by the OCTF led to today's arrests. In May 2005, the Attorney General's office received an anonymous letter from a group of concerned citizens living in the Riverside area complaining about rampant drug dealing which was occurring in that section of the city. The 18-month investigation began with a probe into the sales of heroin and cocaine on Buffalo's West Side and Riverside sections which have been plagued by drug trafficking. The arrests stem from an joint investigation by the New York State Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York State Police. Additionally, two other people were arrested after being charged in two separate but related felony complaints.
Bennett, today announced the unsealing of eight indictments returned by Erie County grand juries, charging 26 people with participating in a large-scale heroin and cocaine trafficking operation. Attorney General Spitzer and State Police Superintendent Wayne E.
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