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Daring daylight holdup nets cash and guns for armed robbers.
Everything was going along pretty much as normal Tuesday afternoon, 12/5,
at the Goldsmith Grand Auction Gallery, 6221 Fisk Road at South Transit. Then, two
men guns, their heads covered with ski masks, entered and demanded money and more
firepower. They left, minutes later, with a small arsenal of weapons plus an
undisclosed amount of cash. Niagara County Sheriff patrols later responded to
the location southwest of Lockport but there have been no arrests. (12/6/00)
Sheriff's deputy found guilty in Wheatfield Court of harassment.
The case against 35-year old James
Hull of the town of Porter had been pending since September with the veteran member of
the Niagara County Sheriff's Department on "paid suspension." Tuesday,
11/28, a non-jury trial concluded that Hull, although found guilty of harassment, was
found "not guilty" of third-degree menacing, a more serious charge.
Both charges were reported based on complaints of Hull's ex-girlfriend. The entire
case appeared to have been decided on the say-so of Kolleen Ziolo apparently believed by
Justice John Mattio, over the strong denials of Hull. Ziolo claimed that Deputy
Hull, while on duty and in uniform, in the wee hours of August 20th, had sneaked into her
apartment and attacked her. She claims the attack left choke marks on her
neck. Hull's attorney called on a number of Sheriff's Department witnesses,
but could not prove that Hull lacked the "opportunity," during his other duties
that morning, to have entered the Ziolo apartment. Hull testified under oath that he
had not even been to the Ziolo apartment during the time in question. It is a
classic case of "he-said, she-said" with one party apparently lying (under
oath). Although Hull apparently had motive, it appeared the court placed on
him the burden of proof that he wasn't at the apartment --- that is, the need for the
defense to prove a negative. The case is likely to go to appeal. Hull
was fined $150 and given a conditional dismissal. He reportedly still faces a
departmental hearing. (11/29/00
Teen mother charged with assault on her baby. 19-year old Latasha
Bowers of Sycamore Street in Buffalo was arrested Thanksgiving after police investigated
the condition of her infant son. The tot was being treated at Children's Hospital
early Thanksgiving for a broken elbow with bruises and bleeding from the eyes. Ms.
Bowers told police the tot's elbow broke when she was trying to dress him in a T-shirt.
She claimed the other injuries were a result of the tot falling out of a child seat
in the car and also could have been from him being attacked by her 2-year old daughter.
Bowers was sent to the Erie County Holding Center to await court action. Her
daughter has been placed with County Protective Services. (11/24/00)
Teens charged with beheading "Hansel" at Festival of Lights
display. A State Parks policeman said he saw a beer can thrown out of a
truck driving without lights and leaving the Prospect Park at Niagara Falls about 2
o'clock Thanksgiving morning. When the vehicle was stopped, the officer saw the head
of Hansel---one of the stars in the Festival of Lights---on the floor of the
truck. Further checking revealed that the Hansel & Gretel display and been
viscously vandalized, damage estimated at $500. The two in the truck have been
charged with felony criminal mischief. Taken to jail were: 19-year old Adam R.
Miller of 140 Lisbon Avenue in Buffalo and 19-year old Paul Benedek of 430 Morgan Drive,
Lewiston. Jerald Wolfgang, Festival president, is reported outraged by the incident.
(11/24/00)
NYC millionaire gets publicity for bail-out of teen. Jessica Balcom was
released from Niagara County Jail on Tuesday after Christian Curry, a New York City
millionaire came into the area to spring for the bail money. Said Mr. Curry,
"Sixteen-year-old girls should be at home with their mothers," he said,
"not rotting away in some jail cell." Jessica Balcom is due in Somerset Town
Court November 30th to answer charges related to planning to make a "pipe bomb."
(11/15/00)
Barker schoolgirl still in jail on misdemeanor charges 3 weeks after talking about
bombs. The Buffalo News has discovered that 16-year old Jessica
Balcom has been confined in the Niagara County Jail for the past three weeks, charged with
"talking" about making pipe bombs with a 15-year old boy. The girl
was ordered held on $5000 bail by Somerset Town Justice Beryl T. Coleman Sr. and her
family hasn't posted the bail. The boy was released in the custody of his parents.
The matter has apparently kept quite by authorities. Authorities reportedly
arrested Ms. Balcom on October 18th, after hearing that she had allegedly passed notes in
Barker High School regarding bombs. Authorities admit they have no evidence
regarding an actual bomb. The Lockport Home Page has learned that pressure
is being placed on authorities to allow Ms. Balcom home, with an electronic monitoring
device but as of Friday morning, 11/10, she was still in the county lockup, completing her
third week of prison life. (11/10/00)
Man convicted of murder and robbery of Olcott party-goer. 24-year
old Donald "Monti" Montana of Buffalo was found guilty of second-degree murder
by a Niagara County Court jury Thursday, 11/2. The jury took six hours to deliberate
and then returned to verdict in the case of the attack and robbery of 42-year old Joseph
Greene of Niagara Falls in March of this year. Green was attacked behind his home
after returning, by taxi, from a day of partying and drinking at the Olcott Polar Bear
Swim. Another man, Charles Rogers, also faces trial in the attack. (11/3/00)
DA says he's going to "get tough" on drunk driving
pleas. Niagara County District Attorney Mathew J. Murphy III says his
office will stop its practice of allowing those found driving with more than 0.12% alcohol
to "cop a plea" to a charge less than Driving While Intoxicated. It has
been common practice for such plea reductions to take place when the accused retains an
lawyer and has a blood alcohol content of less than 0.18%. Over 0.10% blood alcohol
level is supposed to result in arrest for Driving While Intoxicated but arrangements
within the legal system commonly allow for plea bargaining deals in which the accused
enters a "guilty" plea to a lesser offense. (10/28/00)
Man rapes ex-girlfriend, then hangs himself. A 28-year old woman
from Niagara Falls, Ontario described him as her "ex-boyfriend." But
still, when he called, she went to his home in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday, October
24th. When she arrived at 3357 Ninth Street, on the New York side of the border,
34-year old Reuben L. Johnson, not unpredictably, started shouting, and attacked her.
The woman indicates he belted her with his fists, bound her with duct tape, and
then raped and sodomized her. After about an hour and a half of this, she says she
was released. She got in her car, drove back to Niagara Falls, Ontario where she
went to hospital. There she was referred back to the New York side of the border to
make a complaint at Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital. When police there heard her
story they drove out to Johnson's house and, upon entering, found him hanging by
electrical cord in the bathroom. (10/25/00)
State Police focus on Lockport area cable TV service theft. Troopers
Friday, 10/21, announced the arrest of nine men in Niagara, Orleans, and Erie Counties for
theft of cable and satellite TV program. They said their investigation, centered on
Lockport, had been going on for about six months. State Police investigators tracked
sales and use of so-called "black boxes" used on cable and illegally programmed
"smart cards" used on satellite TV receivers. Among the Niagara County men
arrested are: 53-year old Douglas W. Brauer of Hiller Road, 51-year old Noel St. Cyr
of Gaffney Road, and 49-year old Robert E. Verheyn of North Royal Parkway. Others
arrested were from Newfane, Albion, and Lancaster. (10/21/00)
Kopp indicted for shooting of abortionist. A federal grand jury
Tuesday, 10/17, indicted fugitive anti-abortion activist James Kopp in the 1998
sniper killing of an abortion doctor. The two-count indictment charges Kopp,(photo
left) one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives, with using deadly force to prevent Dr.
Barnett Slepian from providing "reproductive health service" and using a firearm
to commit a crime of violence. Slepian, 52, believed responsible for hundreds of
abortions, was killed in his Amherst home by a single shot from a high-powered rifle fired
from woods behind the house Oct. 23, 1998. Total offers of rewards for Kopp's arrest now
substantially exceed the $50,000 offered by the FBI. He has not been spotted since
before the attack on Slepian. (10/17/00)
Disbarred lawyer arrested on "stalking" charges. He had
been disbarred as a lawyer just this past summer. Now he needs a lawyer to deal with
charges against him of stalking a Lockport woman. Ronald A. Sipos, 43, of 1099
Sheree Drive was arrested this week by Lockport Police and charged with 4th-degree
stalking. The woman reportedly complained to Lockport Police that Mr. Sipos refused
to stop contacting her after she attempted to break-off a friendship begun in July.
The charge associated with the loss of his license to practice law, according
to public papers, was stealing funds from a client. (10/4/00)
Big Mac attack. The McDonald hamburger outlet on Young Street in
Tonawanda was the scene of a bizarre robbery attempt Monday night, 10/2. Police say
a man entered the eatery with a defused grenade and threatened to "blow up the
restaurant" if his demands for cash were not met. But when a clerk ran to the
back of the eatery, the desperado fled on foot. 21-year Rocco D. Salamore of Joseph
Drive in the Town of Tonawanda was captured by police responding to the hold-up call after
a chase through neighborhood yards. He faces multiple charges. (10/4/00)
Woman accused of raping boys escaping trial --- county pays $7500 to house her.
A 35-year old Niagara Falls woman accused of multiple sex felony
charges involving young boys may never have to go to jail. That's the word coming
from Niagara County officials who tell the Niagara Gazette that Tynetta Humber
has been declared "mentally disabled" by psychiatrists. Instead of jail,
she's being housed at an expensive West Seneca group home at a cost to Niagara County of
about $7500/month. (9/24/00)
Another Sheriff's Deputy placed under arrest. 35-year
old James Hull faces two criminal charges in connection with the alleged harassment of a
former girlfriend while he was on duty. Hull is a ten year veteran of the Sheriff's
Department and has been suspended (with pay) pending a departmental hearing. He has
been charged with third-degree harassment and third-degree menacing in a matter now being
handled in Justice Court in the Town of Wheatfield. (9/20/00)
Welfare cheats get light sentences. Two women charged with soaking
Niagara County taxpayers for welfare "benefits" they did not qualify were given
light sentences in Niagara County Court Friday, 9/15. 51-year old Margaret L. Brown
of 70th Street in Niagara Falls admitted taking $20,339.86 in "benefits" she was
not entitled to. She got six months in jail plus five year probation from Niagara
County Judge Sara Sperrazza. She was also told to repay the money. 32-year old
Angela M. Woods of Michigan Street in Lockport was sentenced to 60 days in the County
"work program" and three years probation by Lockport Town Justice John B.
Austin. Court papers indicate she took $3,463.35 in welfare benefits she was not
entitled to. She, too, was told to "pay the money back." (9/16)
Kevin Cornell gets 6-month term after probation violation. Former
Wilson School Board member had a plea bargain deal for a DWI case of June 1999 when his
vehicle hit a man on a bike along Porter Center Road, killing him. Cornell got
sentenced to four weekends in jail and probation. But when a probation officer found
a stash of booze in his home, in violation of the terms of his probation, the case was
reopened for new sentencing. That came Tuesday, 9/12, when Mr. Cornell was taken
away from Niagara County Court in handcuffs to serve a six month jail term, after which he
will continue his probation term for up to five years. (9/13)
Teens charged in two separate crashes - both in stolen vehicles. 15-year
old Neal P. Jacobs, Jr., "visiting" from Syracuse, was arrested Saturday, 9/2,
after Niagara County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a car crash on the Tuscarora Indian
Reservations about 3 AM. The 1985 Buick had been stolen from the driveway of Richard
J. Graesser of 2469 Upper Mountain Road. Later in the morning, young Mr. Jacobs was
found walking along Mount Hope Road. He claimed he hadn't been involved in any
accident but couldn't explain the imprint of a steering column on his chest.
Authorities say he also had a screwdriver on him believed to be the instrument used to
damage the car's steering column in the theft. Later in the same morning, over in
the Town of Lockport, other teens were reported involved when a stolen car crashed into a
parked pickup truck along Fernwood Drive. 16-year old Cody S. Pembleton of Birchwood Drive
faces several charges connected with that crash including criminal possession of stolen
property. The car Pembleton was said to be driving was reported stolen earlier from
Paul W. Stadlmeir of Ridgewood Drive. Both Pembleton and his 15-year old passenger,
identified by Niagara County Sheriff's Deputies as Joseph Miosi, reportedly fled the crash
scene but were apprehended later in the area. (9/3/00)
Maintenance man charged with stealing from Housing Authority.
55-year old Robert F. Gazy of Vanderbilt Avenue in North Tonawanda
was arrested Wednesday, 8/30 and charged with stealing tables from a storage area of
Wrobel Towers, a Niagara Falls housing project where he is a maintenance man.
Earlier in the month he was charged with criminal trespass after reportedly being caught
going through a tenant apartment using a pass key. A Housing Authority spokesman
told the media that they had received "several" complaints about Mr. Gazy in
recent months. (8/31)
Teens arrested after girl charges sex abuse. A 14-year old girl
says two boys, ages 16, and 19 sexually abused her. State Police arrested the two
boys, who are brothers living in the town of Cambria, Wednesday, 8/16. They
face multiple sex charges plus charges of unlawful imprisonment. (8/18)
Daughter discovered pregnant, mother says she was raped. A 16-year
old Wheatfield girl who reportedly had sexual relations with a 21-year old man is
pregnant, her mother says. The mother identified a man to Niagara County Sheriff's
Deputies who, she says, is responsible for the deed which is said to have taken place in
mid-July. She wanted him arrested and deputies are investigating. (8/18)
Woman found drunk, covered only by blood. A 40-year old Niagara
Falls woman was found by neighbors of her Ferry Street apartment early Sunday morning,
8/13, naked on the street, covered with blood. The woman, who authorities say was
drunk, claimed she had been raped. Reports indicate the blood was all over her body
and that it appeared she had been dragged for some distance. She was taken to the
hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. (8/14)
McGary ordered held without bail. Clifford J.
McGary, accused of a May beating and a July
stabbing of his estranged wife has been ordered held without bail in the Niagara
County Jail until his case can go to trial. In issuing the order Friday, 7/28,
Niagara County Court Judge Peter Broderick says he's transferring McGary's case to the
newly appointed interim County Judge, Sara Sperrazza because his schedule is full through
the end of the year and McGary needs a prompt trial. (7/29)
Deadbeat dad accused of ID fraud. 49-year old John L. Freeman, now
living on Glenhaven Drive in upscale Amherst had been in a bit of a dilemma. How to
enjoy the good life after his license to drive a car had been suspended for not paying
$10,000 in child support payments to Niagara County Social Services. Additionally,
there was the challenge of finding a job in which Niagara County didn't attach his pay.
Seems instead of Mr. Freeman paying to support his offspring, Niagara County
taxpayers have been stuck doing it. But Mr. Freeman, authorities say, found a way
around the Niagara County enforcement action. Authorities say he applied for a
new driver's license using a phony name and also got a job under that name. Only
problem, Mr. Freeman got caught by Niagara County welfare fraud investigators and was
charged with first-degree falsifying business records on Thursday, 7/20. However, it
looks like Niagara County is still out the $10,000, and more, and the bills to support Mr.
Freeman's parental obligations still land on the back of county taxpayers. (7/21)
Woman admits stealing $52,400 from her employer. 38-year old Pennie
L. Walker of Hollenbeck Road has admitted in Niagara County Court that she took the money
from Wolf's Nursery in Pendleton over a two year period which ended in May of this year.
According to public papers, she merely wrote out checks to herself on the company's
account and went undetected for most of the two year period. Sentencing has been set
for October 13th. (7/15)
Woman who "lost" engagement ring charged with insurance fraud. A
41-year old North Tonawanda woman who reportedly has a history of "losing" rings
has admitted to insurance fraud in the latest "loss" case. Joann M. Meyers
of South Meadow Drive entered a guilty plea in Niagara County Court to a reduced charge of
attempted 3rd-degree insurance fraud. She faces up to four years in prison when
sentenced August 29th. Part of the reported plea bargain agreement was that Meyers
would re-pay $14,000 to an insurance company. (7/15)
McGary captured in Pennsylvania, charged with attempted
murder. The Wheatfield man who was able to flee Niagara County after
allegedly stabbing his estranged wife has been captured, without resistance, in
Pennsylvania. Clifford James McGary was reportedly stopped by a State Trooper
Sunday evening, 7/9, about 6:16 P.M. He has been jailed on charges of attempted
murder and will be brought back to Niagara County for prosecution. Mrs. McGary was
last reported still in "critical" condition at ECMC. See
preceeding story. (7/10)
Man sought after allegedly stabbing his wife. Authorities were
still searching Thursday morning for 66-year old Clifford James McGary, charged with
stabbing his estranged wife Wednesday, 7/5, about Noon. The victim, 66-year old Jean
McGary was reported stabbed outside the McGary house at 6847 Sy Road in Wheatfield.
She was reported in very serious condition at Erie County Medical Center late
Wednesday night. Mr. McGary has a previous arrest record in connection with
incidents involving his wife. McGary could be armed and is dangerous according to
the Niagara County Sheriff's Department. (7/6)
Terror on Tuscarora Reservation. Multiple units of Niagara County
Sheriff's Deputies, backed up State Police and police dogs were dispatched Saturday and
into early Sunday, 7/1-2, for weekend violence on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation.
Authorities say four were arrested on various charges relating to gang assault,
arson fire, and murder threats. The trailer home of one resident was fully burned
up. Officials did not immediately have an explanation for the weekend outbreak of
violence but such events have been common in the past. (7/3)
Men arrested on sex charges after juvenile complaints. Two
Niagara County men were arrested on sex charges in unrelated complaints by children who
claim the men took sexual liberties with them over a year ago. A 35-year old Sanborn
man was arrested Friday, 6/23 on complaint of a 14-year old girl who accused him of
"deviate sexual contact" with her during July 1999 according to a report
in public papers. A 57-year old Pendleton man has ordered held for sentencing in the
matter of "sexual abuse" of a 14-year old boy he reportedly had working at his
bait and tackle shop during early 1999. Ronald C. Williams made a plea deal after
being indicted by a Grand Jury and will be sentenced for third-degree sodomy. (6/24)
System fails; jury can't agree, Northrup remains free. A Niagara
County Criminal Court Jury spent four days trying to reach a verdict in the Michael
Northrup murder trial and were finally allowed to go home on Friday, 6/9, after repeatedly
telling the judge they couldn't reach a verdict. Stories coming out of the jury in
statements to the media after the trial indicate a poorly organized group that spent hours
just sitting around rather than actively debating or researching the case.
There were reports of aurally violent disagreements. One juror even thought the
Niagara Falls Police has "planted" a blood sample. One woman on the jury
was singled out as a problem as others said she wasn't going to even consider changing her
vote. One juror described the jury scene as ..."a joke...what happened in there
was an absolute travesty." The last reported vote by the jury was 8-4 in favor
of a guilty verdict on the murder charge, the verdict was reported more heavily in favor
of guilty on lesser charges. One one lesser charge there was reported unanimous
agreement in the jury room but one woman juror blurted out at the last minute in open
court, as the verdict was being read, that she would not even convict on the lesser
count. There was no immediate word on a new trial. (6/10)
Woman jury foreman wanted to go on vacation. That seems to be the
primary reason why the jury in the Northrup murder trial indicated after only a couple
hours of deliberation that they were "hopelessly" deadlocked. County
Judge Peter Broderick dismissed the woman on Wednesday, 6/7 and called in an alternate
juror to take her place. According to media reports the jury was deadlocked 9-3, and
then 8-4 in favor of conviction. Northrup's attorney has called for a mistrial with
prejudice. Deliberations continued with an alternate juror replacing Madam Forewoman
Thursday and will continue into Friday. (6/8)
Jury deadlocked, Northrup could get off. The jury in the Michael
Northrup murder trial in Niagara County Court said they were deadlocked Tuesday night,
6/6. Northrup is accused of killing John Monstream at the instruction of Monstream's
wife. The jury was instructed to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. (6/7)
Just horsing around. Two Country music stars were
arrested after a show Saturday night, 6/3, in connection with an incident involving a Erie
County Sheriff's Department horse. According to public papers, a daughter of the one
the deputies allowed Kenny Chesney to get up on one of the Sheriff's Mounted Patrol's
horses. When he wouldn't get down, and, she says started to ride away, other
deputies came to the scene. One report says Chesney was pulled off the horse and a fight
broke out. Chesney and fellow C&W singer Tim McGraw were both arrested.
The incident followed the George Straight Country Music Festival. (6/5)
Sheriff's deputy arrested (again). 39-year
old James Fitzpatrick has been arrested again. This time the charge is 4th degree
criminal possession of a weapon --- a result of Fitzpatrick allegedly carrying a sawed off
.30-caliber semi-automatic rifle while at his job as a maintenance worker at Four Mile
Creek State Park in the Niagara County Town of Porter. Even more surprising is that
Fitzpatrick, who, according to public papers, was arrested Thursday, 5/18, is also (still)
employed as a Niagara County Deputy Sheriff. Following his arrest it was disclosed
that Mr. Fitzpatrick was still being carried on the Niagara County Sheriff's Department
payroll, complete with his badge, after being arrested in April 1999 on two counts of
shoplifting. Even with this week's arrest, Fitzpatrick stays on the payroll although
suspended from "active duty." (5/19)
22 students arrested at weekend beer blast. Niagara County Sheriff
Deputies were called out to an area called "Freedom Park" off Drum Road, west of
Middleport Friday afternoon, 5/12, for reports of teenage drinking. There they
found a large group of high school students, most from Lockport, Gasport, and Middleport,
where beer was reportedly being consumed from the keg. The students arrested, most
ages 17 or 18, are to appear in court to answer charges on May 30th. Authorities
indicated that more arrests are possible. (5/14)
Trial of man charged with killing girl friend's husband begins in Lockport. Sources
say 29-year old Michael Northrup of Caledonia was infatuated with Annette Montstream, a
Rochester area donut clerk. He is accused of killing Mrs. Monstream's 37-year old
husband in a secluded area of Monroe County then driving to Niagara Falls where the body
was left to rot in a vehicle parked in the Rainbow Centre Parking Ramp. Authorities
say they have a confession from Mrs. Monstream ordering her husband's execution. She
says she was able to persuade Northrup to do the killing. While Mrs. Monstream has
entered a guilty plea in the matter to get a reduced sentence, Northrup is claiming he is
not guilty and the matter is now on trial in Niagara County Court. Northrup is out
on bail. Mrs. Monstream is in jail. Both are in historic Lockport
courthouse, looking across the courtroom at each other, for the highly publicized
trial. (5/8)
Niagara liquor smuggling ring busted. Authorities in Canada and the
United States say they have arrested a dozen men in connection with a long-time smuggling
operation that is estimated to have moved millions of dollars of untaxed liquor into
Canada. Five of those arrested are from Western Niagara County. The ring
is said to have been in operation since 1997 and evaded (US)$4.1-million in taxes while
making a profit about about $3-million. Authorities made the arrests Friday, 5/5,
and indicated further arrests are possible. The men are accused of buying large
quantities of liquor at various discount stores in Maryland, transporting the booze to
Niagara County where it was smuggled into Canada, usually in the trunks of cars.
Leaders of the ring have been identified as the Niagara Falls brothers, David
and Carl Pasquantino. (5/6)
Reports says crime up in county during 1999. According to public
papers released Thursday, 5/4, the theft of motor vehicles in Niagara County soared 30% in
1999 as compared to 1998. Larcenies were reported up 2% and claims of rape were up
25%. Most other major crimes, such as arson and murder were reported down in number.
An analysis by the Lockport Home Page indicates that the vehicle theft
increase was inflated by a string of over fifty thefts traced to a resident of the
Tuscarora Indian Reservation. (5/4)
Former WLVL staffer loses appeal on kiddie porn conviction. Thomas
R. Foley Sr. who had been working as a radio technician for Lockport Radio Station WLVL,
has reportedly lost his appeal of a 1997 conviction on charges that he used the Internet
to transmit kiddie porn. The Union-Sun & Journal is reporting that
Foley's appeal was turned down by a 7-0 decision of the New York State Court of Appeals.
Foley was the first person charged back in 1996 under a new law that made it
a crime to act as a sexual predator of children over the Internet. On January 20,
1998, Mr. Foley was sentenced to 2 to 6 years in a federal prison. He had faced up
to 18 years behind bars. According to public papers, Mr. Foley sent kiddie porn
pictures over the Internet to who he thought was a girl in the Utica, New York area.
But the girl was actually part of a sting set up by authorities. On the
fifth computer link-up between the two, apparently when arrangements were being made for
Foley and the "15-year old girl" to meet in Buffalo and have sex, authorities
with the power of a search warrant, entered Mr. Foley's home and found him online at his
computer keyboard. None of the computer conversations reportedly took place from
WLVL. There was no immediate word on how much more time Foley faces in prison.
(4/19)
13-year old pregnant girl beaten with baseball bat. The future
mother was attending activities at the "Center For Young Parents" at
456 10th Street in Niagara Falls when she got into a disagreement with a man she knows.
Police indicate that when the man didn't seem to be convincing the 4-month pregnant
teeny-bopper, he took an aluminum baseball bat and beat her several times in the stomach
and head. The man then walked away leaving others to call for an ambulance which
took the girl to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital in serious condition. (4/6)
$2000 reward offered for capture of thug responsible for deli robbery and beating. The
clerk at the Ted-Mars Deli, on Packard Road in Niagara Falls didn't have a chance to give
any resistance. When two thugs entered the popular deli in the middle of the day,
back on February 29th, one of them grabbed and brutally beat a woman clerk who had worked
there for 19 years. The other grabbed the cash. Now the deli owner, Gary Fryza
is offering a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the
person(s) responsible. An interesting omission, however: in all the posters
and publicity, no description of the thugs is provided. (4/6)
Cocaine and cash seized during Falls drug raid. Niagara
Falls Police say the street value of cocaine seized after they entered 562 10th Street
Wednesday, 3/29, was about $25,000. A 26-year old man was charged during the raid with
first and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. $2650 in cash
was also reported seized during the raid. (3/30)
Promoter Ed Smith admits fraud. The 55-year old promoter resigned
as chairman of the Niagara Falls Convention & Visitor's Bureau after entering a plea
of "guilty" Wednesday, 3/8, in Buffalo Federal Court to charges that he
had violated a bankruptcy court order. Smith, who previously operated Melody Fair at
North Tonawanda and Crawdaddy's Restaurant in South Buffalo, admitted that he withdrew
about $3500 from a corporate account without reporting it. He could be
sentenced to up to five years in jail when he next appears in court on June 28th. He
also faces a fine up to $250,000 according to reports in public papers. (3/9)
Monstream admits having her hubby murdered. Annette Monstream, a
suburban Rochester donut shop waitress, admitted in Niagara County Court Monday, 3/6, that
she had a man kill her husband in June of 1998 and then aided him as he hauled the body
off to Niagara Falls where he allegedly left it to rot in a mini-van parked at the Rainbow
Shopping Mall parking ramp. The mother of two had previously denied the charges but
entered the guilty plea in hopes of getting the shorter range of an expected 20 to 40 year
sentence in prison. Niagara County taxpayers have had to foot the cost of the case
so far---including the cost of Monstream's high priced lawyer--- because of the body being
transported into this area for disposal. Monstream admitted to authorities she
wanted a divorce from her husband, and father of the couple's two children, but that
37-year old John F. Monstream refused so she sought to have him killed. That job,
she relates, went to 28-year-old Michael Northrup, a customer at the donut shop where she
worked. Authorities say Northrup was infatuated with Annette and was willing to do
her bidding. Mr.Northrup is set to go on trial May 1st in Lockport and authorities
say Mrs. Monstream has agreed to testify against him. Northrup is charged with
shooting Mr. Monstream in the head. (3/7)
Two women charged with welfare fraud. Authorities
charge that 33-year old Annette M. Rumschik of Ridge Road took about $580 in
"benefits" she was not entitled to by misuse of food stamps, and offering a
false instument for filing. 26-year old Beverly A. Duplicki of North Tonawanda was
charged with taking $1,555 from County taxpayers she was not entitled by several devices
including offering a false instrument for filing. (2/26)
Indian admits taking 21 vehicles from off reservation. Most of the
vehicles, taken from the Niagara Falls area, were reportedly heavily damaged, some burned.
All were taken onto reservation land. 16-year old Christopher Sandy of Chew
Road reportedly has been allowed to cop a plea to only two counts of third-degree grand
larceny. The cost and damages of the thefts are estimated to exceed $100,000.
It took Niagara County Sheriff's Deputies and other law enforcement agencies
month to place charges against Sandy, their investigation hampered by the difficulties of
gaining access to land on the Indian Reservation where the stolen cars were taken.
Sandy is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4th. (2/19)
Sheriff Deputy attacked on Indian reservation. Niagara
County Deputy Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti reports a 42-year old resident of the Tuscarora
Indian Reservation attempted to ram his patrol car twice along Mount Hope Road early
Sunday morning, 1/30. Deputies normally stay off the Reservation, especially at
night, due to dangerous conditons. Speeds were reported up to 70 miles per hour in
the encounter, about 3:30 a.m., in which the driver of the alleged attack vehicle
was finally taken into custody at gun-point. Jeffrey R. Mt. Pleasant has been
charged with felony DWI, second degree reckless endangerment plus additional V&T
charges. Authorities say Mt. Pleasant's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.21
percent. Bail was set at $5000. (1/31)
Lockport man arrested after 3 A.M. incident in park. 22-year old
Terrance Robinson of Allen Street in Lockport was arrested by State Police Saturday, 1/29
and charged with assault on a 22-year old Niagara Falls man. The incident reportedly
took place about 3 a.m. on Friday at the Reservoir State Park in the Town of Lewiston.
There, according to charges made in public papers, Mr. Robinson kicked the Niagara
Falls man with his steel-toed boots. The victim is reported to have sustained
injuries to the head including a fractured skull. Robinson is charged with
second-degree assault and was sent to the Niagara County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
(1/30)
Woman admits stealing over $18K from her employer. 41-year old
Colleen M. Curtis, of Lockport Road, admitted taking the money from Lumberjack
Pallet, a North Tonawanda company, where she was receptionist and bookkeeper between
January 1994 and March 1999. An original charge of grand larceny was plea bargained
down to petit larceny with the proviso that Curtis pay the stolen money back before being
sentenced on February 25th. (1/8/00)
NCCC student charged in over $17K in damages, thefts. Niagara
County Sheriff's investigators have arrested 22-year old Jeremy P. Barnes in connection
with a string of locker break-ins at the Sanborn campus of the community college.
The thefts continued over several weeks back in October and November.
Most of the items stolen, investigators say, were text books that were later sold of
college book stores in Erie County. Barnes, who reportedly gave an address of
McIntosh Drive in Cambria, faces 24 counts of petit larceny plus a charge of felony
criminal mischief. He faces a Town of Cambira court appearance on February
1st. (1/8/00)
Illegal Canadian border traffic on increase. The latest major catch
by United States Border Patrol officers was the capture right after New Years of nine
Chinese teenagers who moved across the Niagara River from Canada in a raft.
Shortly after they landed in Youngstown, Border officials captured them. Also
arrested two men who reportedly had organized the illegal entry. Late last year
several hundred additional Border Patrol officers were added to the U-S/Canada border,
especially in areas where there are no formal entry crossings. One such example has
been the Niagara River but the major entry point for illegals and merchandise smuggling
has been the Akwasasne Indian Reservation in Northern New York which straddles the New
York-Quebec border. (1/6/00)
County Refuse Center burglarized of $21K+. Somebody
just took a pair of wire cutters to enter, through a wire fence, the Niagara County
property in Lockport off West Avenue early Thursday, 12/30 and drive off with a new gray
pickup truck estimated to be worth about $21,000. Additionally an unspecified number
of tools and other supplies were taken from the district maintenance center. (12/31)
Niagara Falls teen arrested on drug charges in Lockport. 16-year
old Brandon T. Gutzmore was arrested cruising the Lockport Crime District at 2 a.m. on
Friday, 12/24. Gutzmore was charged with unlicensed operation and, after cocaine was
reportedly found in his sweatshirt, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
A passenger in his car, an 18-year old, also from Niagara Falls, was charged
with criminal impersonation after allegedly giving police a false name. (12/26)
Elderly robbed at their homes in three separate incidents. Police
at Niagara Falls say two masked men held up three elderly residents as they returned to
their homes Monday. 12/20, early evening. In three separate incidents in the
Midtown and South End of the city, the victims were approached by the masked desperados as
they were getting out of their cars upon returning home. A 17-year old youth was
arrested after a foot chase on Pine Avenue and charged with multiple counts of robbery and
assault but at least one other suspect is being sought. (12/22)
Man arrested twice in same day for DWI. 21-year old David J.
Leihgarber of 251 North Transit Street in Lockport was arrested twice on Sunday in Niagara
Falls for Driving While Intoxicated. According to public papers, Leihgarber was
first stopped and charged about 4 a.m. at Main Street and Cedar Avenue where police said
he was speeding 50 mph in a 30 mph zone. Finally out on bail later in the day, Mr.
Leihgarber was arrested again about 4:30 p.m. at 47th Street and Niagara Falls Blvd.
This time he was not released on bail. (12/20)
Gasport man jailed on child porn charges. 40-year William A.
Barnard Jr. of Dale Road was reported arrested by Niagara County Sheriff's investigators
Wednesday, 12/15, on charges he used a 14-year old girl in a "sexual
performance." Barnard was ordered jailed at the Niagara County lock-up in lieu
of $25,000 bail. He is reportedly employed as a jail guard at the state prison at
Albion. (12/17)
Newspaper distributor charged with welfare fraud. A
50-year old Niagara Falls woman who reportedly distributed newspapers for the Greater
Niagara Newspapers was arrested Friday, 12/3, on charges of stealing nearly $18,000 from
Niagara County Social Services. According to public papers, Diana L. Howard of 3052
Dorchester Road is accused of collecting $17,552 in cash and benefits from the county
welfare office between January 1996 and November 1998. That's a period of time,
investigators say, that Ms. Howard was being paid by Greater Niagara Newspapers for the
distribution of newspapers. The Niagara Gazette, in a published statement on
Saturday, 12/4, identified Ms. Howard as an "independent contractor." That
term is frequently utilized by companies to avoid bringing employees under minimum wage,
disability, workman's compensation, and other regulatory requirements of payroll
employees. It also allows workers to take income without automatic deduction of
taxes, the process of which, is a source of information to State authorities trying to
track down welfare cheats who work unreported jobs while taking "benefits" from
the taxpayers. (12/4)
Indian reservation resident arrested in connection with wave of car thefts. The
crime task force organized to stop the rash of car thefts from the
Niagara County area, most traced eventually to the Tuscarora Indian Reservation, has come
up with an arrest. 16-year old Christopher Sandy of 5319 Chew Road was charged
Wednesday, 12/1, in connection with the theft of a pickup truck from a Niagara Falls home
in October. Authorities say two juveniles were also involved with Sandy in using the
pickup to steal two snowmobiles from another off-reservation residence. Authorities
say they expect several more arrests to follow. (12/2)
Masked desperados hold up market, escape with cash. Nothing
surprises residents of Niagara Falls any more when it comes to brazen crime. Take
the report of two masked men with automatic guns descending on Terry's Flea Market at 739
19th Street late Friday afternoon, 11/26, for an old-fashioned country-style
hold-up. Police say they took all the cash they could find with the cash registers
emptied while terrorized employees (guns held to their head) stood aside, hoping to
have their lives spared. With "cooperation" all around the bandits didn't
fire a shot, leaving the victims alive to call the incident into police. In the
newspaper, the shocking story rated only a small side-bar mention. Hardly news in
Niagara Falls anymore. (11/27)
Proposal to move Niagara County Criminal Court to Niagara Falls
could cost big bucks. But that's exactly what newly-elected Supreme
Court Justice Amy Fricano is proposing because it would free up a courtroom at Lockport
for her to conduct (non-criminal) Supreme Court and keep her chambers in Lockport where
she lives. Fricano has been serving as Niagara County Judge based in the
County Courthouse at Lockport. On the surface the idea has merit. Both Niagara
Falls and Lockport would have one each---one criminal court and one non-criminal Supreme
Court. Both criminal courts are now in Lockport so they are near the jail where
defendants are usually housed. A change would mean drastically increased
transportation costs and a need to hire more deputies according to Niagara County Sheriff
Tom Beilein. Additionally, there are no holding cells or secure facilities at
Niagara Falls and those would have to be constructed. Actually, all the
courtrooms in question should be in Lockport since its the County Seat. However, the
present system of scattering the courtrooms came about as a result of political pressure
from politicians at Niagara Falls where a second courthouse has generated significant
numbers of political patronage support jobs for decades. (11/23)
Update 12/15/99: Administrative Judge Vincent E.
Doyle Tuesday, 12/14, announced that he has turned down Judge Fricano's request.
Judge Doyle cited several reasons for his action including "additional
and unnecessary expenses on the people of Niagara County."
Tomaino acquitted in shooting death of estranged wife. The trial
took a long time and the jury deliberated for ten hours but the result was another legal
victory for famed criminal lawyer Paul J. Cambria Jr. His client, 50-year old John
M. Tomaino was found not guilty of shooting his estranged wife to death in 1990.
36-year old Linda L. Tomaino was shot dead in her bed on November 18th 1990
in the home on Wheatfield-Pendleton Town Line Road the couple were still sharing.
Sources say a divorce was about to become final in two weeks. Some members of the
family of Mrs. Tomaino were reported very upset in court when the verdict was announced
Friday afternoon, 11/19. Prosecutors thought they had a good case against Mr.
Tomaino but defense lawyer Paul Cambria pointed out that the Niagara County Sheriff's
Department had "botched" the crime scene investigation so badly by disturbing
evidence at the home. That evidence, he said, was thus inconclusive. Cambria
suggested that Mrs. Tomaino had committed suicide. Tomaino had been previously tried
and convicted in the case and had served 14 months in Sing-Sing prison but attorney
Cambria took over his case on appeal and had that conviction overturned and won a new
trial. Mr. Tomaino walked out of court on Friday a free man. (11/20)
What else is going on out there? It was revealed this week that
break-ins to student lockers at Niagara County Community College at Sanborn have been
going on since October 7th with 23 students reporting that locks on their lockers have
been busted so that contents could be looted. Losses have been estimated at more
than $14,000 (including and mostly, property damage). Campus Security, unable to
deal with the problem, has called for help from the Niagara County Sheriff's Department.
(11/19)
Suspect nabbed in Town of Cambria office break-in. 38-year old Paul
D. Prater of Garlow Road, (Tuscarora Indian Reservation) in the town of Lewiston was
arrested early Sunday, 11/7, shortly after a break-in at the Town of Cambria offices at
4160 Upper Mountain Road. Authorities say Prater matched the description given by a
witness who saw a man flee the offices about 7 a.m. He was apprehended shortly after
the break-in "just walking" along Townline Road. Missing is a cash box,
still not recovered. An alarm system was damaged in the break-in. Prater has
been jailed in lieu of $2500 bail and charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree
criminal mischief, and petit larceny. (11/8)
Circle the wagons: Niagara Falls is under attack:
Authorities are trying to side-step the politically incorrect way of
describing it but a rash of 40 stolen cars out of Niagara Falls in the past three weeks
appear to have an explanation on the grounds of the Tuscarora Indian Reservation.
The Indian "sovereign ground" has long been a crime sanctuary for strikes at
Lockport, Niagara Falls, Lewiston, and the Town of Niagara but the recent crime spree has
even got political leaders agreeing that something has to be done. Authorities
admitted Thursday, 11/4, that "most" of 40 stolen cars have been found on the
Reservation stripped and destroyed. Authorities have been said reluctant to go onto
the Reservation for fear of being shot at unless the movement is made in force.
Publicly, however, authorities skirt around that politically touchy issue. But air
surveillance of the Reservation usually detects the stolen cars and then group forces move
in for the recovery...usually days later. The latest public move was on Thursday
when authorities from Niagara Falls and other surrounding governments along with the
Niagara County Sheriff's Department agreed to form a "task force" to attempt to
combat the problem. (11/5)
Hundreds on Main Street for fight, eight arrested. They
gathered in the area of 1711 Main Street in Niagara Falls on Friday, 10/29, and watched as
a 19-year old Cheetowaga youth was knocked to the grown and beaten. Many fights then
reportedly broke out among the watchers. All available police were called to the
near riot scene and arrested eight ranging in age from 19 to 41 years of age.
(10/31)
Teen charged in killing of baby. 18-year old Rashawn Hanesworth of
Lathrop Street in Buffalo was arrested Thursday, 10/7, and charged with manslaughter in
connection with the death of a ten-month old baby. Buffalo Police say Hanesworth is
the "boyfriend" of the tot's mother, 22-year old Courtney Lewis who reportedly
was out shopping leaving Hanesworth to baby-sit. Hanesworth reportedly
suggested to police the baby had died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Wednesday but
investigators found bruises on the body. An autopsy showed the baby died from a
"severe blunt force injury to the abdomen." Faced with those
findings, Hanesworth is reported to have admitted hitting the baby in the stomach
"when she wouldn't stop crying." (10/7)
And he was only trying to be a gracious host. Police in Niagara
Falls are telling the story of an apartment dweller on 25th Street who invited three
"of the boys" over to his digs earlier this week to socialize and "smoke
crack cocaine." His guests turned hostile, however, got physical with the host,
and forced him (he says) to sign away various pieces of furniture and appliances in his
home to his guests who then hauled the goods away. Ah, the additional complication
seems to be...all the goods, valued at $2800, are the property of Rent-A-Center.
(9/22)
Teen charged after report of house invasion, beating, robbery. Police
at Niagara Falls have charged 19-year old Malachi M. Gates of 1943 Falls Street with
first-degree robbery after an alleged forced entry into a Grove Avenue home on Thursday,
9/9. A man there, said he was knocked him unconscious with a gun. A
police report indicates $525 in cash was taken along with a gold chain. (9/10)
Sheriff reports: 41 more stolen cars recovered from Reservation. Even
some of the residents of the Tuscarora Indian Reservation were reported complaining.
The number of cars taken to the Reservation after being stolen in the Western part
of Niagara County was starting to fill up vacant lots. Most all were stripped
and burned. Tuesday, 8/31, 41 more stolen vehicles were reported recovered by the
Niagara County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's patrols, that normally stay away from
Indian land, especially after dark, have moved in with force and numbers to search for and
recover the vehicles. The Reservation, has become known in recent years as a
"crime sanctuary" where robberies and other crimes against surrounding
non-Indian lands are staged. (9/1)
Cars stolen from Niagara Falls found on Indian Reservation. It
was another in a long series of auto thefts that evidence indicates originate on the
Tuscarora Indian reservation---a virtual crime sanctuary in the town of Lewiston.
The latest stolen vehicle was spotted Friday, 8/27, by Niagara County
Sheriff's Deputies (who watch the area during daylight hours with helicopter patrols).
It had been reported stolen by a man on Willow Avenue in Niagara Falls on Thursday.
The vehicle had been extensively damaged. After making that discovery,
authorities report finding four other vehicles, hidden on the Reservation, recently stolen
from Western Niagara County, that were also badly damaged. (8/28)
Niagara County man slain in Buffalo. Police in the Queen City
report 49-year old Louis Sansivero of the Town of Niagara was shot to death Friday, 8/27,
in a Kenmore Avenue apartment about 9 a.m. A suspect reportedly fled the scene in
the dead man's car, a 1992 blue Lincoln. Police did not immediately announce a
motive for the shooting which involved several rounds at close range. (8/28) Update
8/29: Police have arrested a 16-year old boy in connection with the
shooting of Mr. Sansivero. According to public papers, Terrance Anderson of LaSalle
Avenue, Buffalo, has been charged with second-degree murder.
Teens from Niagara Falls face drug charges after being stopped in Lockport. The
two were in a vehicle with an expired temporary inspection sticker which caused them to be
stopped by a Niagara County Sheriff's Deputy Saturday evening, 8/21, along South Transit
Road. Deputy Leonard Guagliano reports, in public papers, that it turns out the two
had, what appeared to be, crack cocaine and marijuana with an estimated street value of
about $1000. 18-year old Marlowe J. Smith and 18-year old Casondra T. King, both of
Niagara Falls, are to answer heavy duty drug charges in Lockport Town Court. (8/23)
Fugitive wanted for attempted murder finally caught---at his own birthday party.
Authorities had been seeking Henly Hill of Easton Street in Buffalo since
February of 1998 to answer attempted murder charges. On Monday, 8/9, Mr. Hill
celebrated his 24th birthday and showed up for a party in his honor put on by friends.
Police arrived at the party, also, and arrested Mr. Hill who had been sought in
connection with a shooting on Wende Street on February 5, 1998. (8/11)
Man charged with rape of 12 year old girl. Niagara County Sheriff's
Deputies have arrested 36-year old John B. Parks of 3046 Lockport Road on charges he had
sexual intercourse with a 12 year old girl who was unconscious. The charge is
first-degree rape and reckless endangerment for an incident that is alleged to have
happened on Sunday, 8/1, in the Town of Lewiston. Bail was set at $25,000.
(8/5)
Former Social Services employee gets off with only probation on
theft charges. 51-year old Elizabeth S. Greene of Swan Road, Youngstown who
had pleaded guilty to using false names and a copy of a man's driver's license to
fraudulently obtain utility service has been let go without jail. Niagara County
Judge Amy Fricano allowed the woman to "serve" three years probation instead of
punishment. (7/17)
Tonawanda man charged with rape of baby sitter. 29-year old Richard
Archie has been charged with rape, sodomy, and endangering the welfare of a child in
connection with a reported sex attack on a 15-year old baby sitter. The girl tells
authorities she was looking after a couple's infant child when Archie, a "friend of
the family" visited and attacked her at the couple's home in the Sheridan-Parkside
area of Tonawanda. According to public papers, Archie has a record of previous
arrests including rape. (7/8)
Seven charged with bringing fireworks into WNY.
Seven people, including one from Lockport, were arrested late Friday night
just north of the Pennsylvania border as they were allegedly in the process of bringing
fireworks, purchased in Pennsylvania and Ohio, back to the Niagara Frontier.
Police say they were watching the points-of-sale, took descriptions of vehicles which they
radioed ahead to other police waiting just inside the New York State border.
When the fireworks customers crossed into New York State at Chautauqua County they were
stopped and arrested. Authorities say they seized about $2000 in
fireworks. Among those charged was 30-year old Tim Tsiolekis of 9 Harvey
Avenue in Lockport. (7/4)
She doesn't believe in banks. A 78-year old widow was taking a nap
Thursday afternoon, 7/1, when thieves apparently entered her house in the Town of Hamburg
and hauled away a floor safe. The victim says the safe contained her life savings,
about $480,000 plus some jewelry. When she awoke from the nap, she noticed scrape
marks on the floor and then the vacant space where the safe had been. She
believes the thieves cased her house when one of them tried to pitch her a driveway paving
job. That man is described as an Indian, about 5-foot, 10 inches tall ,185 pounds,
and with a "fat ugly face." (7/3)
Maybe they should cut off his SSI check and give him some work to do. 41-year
old Robert A. Jackson has been sent back to prison for making harassment telephone calls
to women. A report in the Buffalo News says its his 25th conviction
for the sexually oriented calls that apparently began at age 17. Jackson has
lots of time to make telephone calls because he doesn't have to work for a living.
He is one of thousands in Western New York who have found a way to live off the Social
Security fund (without ever having contributed to it). Jackson collects SSI
"benefits" and complains he gets lonely and has nothing to do so he reportedly
calls up women at random with telephone conversations that start out with something like,
"Hey, baby, I've got something good for you." Jackson is now serving
another term at the Erie County Correctional Facility at Alden. (7/3)
$100K missing from Buffalo Post Office. Employees
of the Buffalo Niagara Square Post Office are suspected of stealing over $100,000 in
stamps and cash over an extended period. Postal authorities say they are still
investigating the matter but have placed two employees on "leave."
Meanwhile, a postal employee who dumped hundreds of pieces of mail in late winter because
he was too lazy to deliver the items was given a mild slap on the wrist. Frank W.
Matney was sentenced U. S. Federal Court Wednesday, 6/23, to "probation" and a
fine of $1000. His action of dumping bags of mail into Walnut Creek (near Silver
Creek in southern Erie County) resulted in the destruction of at least 1,200 pieces of
mail, many more that were damaged, and countless other pieces that will never be accounted
for. (6/24)
Sanborn man terrorized on Tuscarora Indian Reservation. They may be
public roads but an 18-year old Sanborn man found out that if non-Indians drive on them,
especially after dark, they can expect trouble. Trouble is what Paul D. Zambito of
5925 Ward Road, Sanborn got Thursday night, 6/17. Driving along Walmore Road at
Mount Hope Road he was attacked by a gang in a white Oldsmobile with no license plates.
His car was shot at twice and chased off the Reservation. Mr. Zambito was
uninjured but his car sustained body damage from the shootings. (6/19)
Tonawanda man admits to kiddie porn charges. 62-year old Morris I.
Hesch of Edgewood Avenue pleaded guilty in U. S. District Court Tuesday, 6/15 and now
faces a sentence of 27 to 35 months. He faced both federal and state charges
connected to downloading reputed kiddie porn of the internet and then transporting the
images "across state lines." (6/19)
Man accused of swindling Lockport Savings Bank in pyramid scheme convicted. Syracuse,
NY businessman Patrick Bennett was convicted Thursday, 6/10, of running a $700-million
pyramid scheme which cheated about 22,000 investors. Among those to lose
substantial money in the racket was Lockport Savings Bank. The local savings
institution wrote off the losses more than a year ago rather than attempt to recover from
the Bennett family and be associated with the embarrassing publicity concerning its
involvement. LSB losses have been estimated by those on the outside as in the
neighborhood of a million dollars. Mr. Bennett ran Bennett Funding Group which
specialized in getting multi-million dollar investments from rich people, banks, and large
corporations. A federal jury in New York City convicted Bennett on 42 counts.
He had been out on bail but when the jury returned the verdict, was immediately taken into
custody for transport to jail. Bennett reportedly put on a sobbing display in the
courtroom when handcuffed. Although some of the money is available for fractional
recovery, much is being depleted by accounting and lawyer fees. Bennett is said to
have spent much of the money on an outrageous spending spree that went on for years.
Gambling ventures were one of his favorite ways to spend the money and he lived a rich
life-style. The main instrument of fraud he has been accused of is selling to
investors leases for office equipment that sometimes had been bought for cash or did not
exist. (6/10)
90-Year old man charged with rape of girls 7, and 4. Theodore
A. Sypnier of Cobb Street in Tonawanda has been charged with rape and sodomy in connection
with two little girls he was baby-sitting. Police say the man, who served time
previously for sexual abuse of a minor, was reportedly left in charge of the two girls by
a mother who wanted to visit her boyfriend out of town. He had reportedly moved into the
neighborhood about six months ago and projected a "friendly grandfather" type
image. He was arrested this week after a police investigation and is being held in
the Erie County Holding Center on $25,000 bail. (5/29)
Canadian caught at border smuggling gold and platinum. The
Toronto resident was targeted for special inspection as he attempted to enter Canada at
the Niagara Falls Whirlpool Rapids Bridge on Friday, 5/21. The man was attempting to
use the CANPASS system whereby permit holders go directly across the border with no
customs inspection. They are, however, subject to "special inspection" and
such was the case Friday when Revenue Canada officials found about $36K in gold and
platinum on the suspect car. Authorities say the precious metals were seized, the
suspect is subject to criminal action. (5/22)
11 Koreans caught making illegal entry to US at Grand Island. The
escapade took place Friday afternoon in broad daylight. A boat traveled from Grand
Island across the river to the Canadian side where it picked up a load of
"passengers." The boat then returned to Grand Island. The welcoming
committee at the Blue Water Marina included the United States Border Patrol.
In addition to those on the boat, six more, stashed in a Grand Island hotel, were
arrested. The reason they all got caught? It's no great revelation. The
Border Patrol watches the border every day. They have boats and binoculars, too.
(5/9)
Judge indicates he couldn't wait for Auntie to croak. 67-year old Joseph
Rupert entered a guilty plea in Niagara County Court Friday, 5/7, for felony grand
larceny. Authorities say Rupert, of 8485 East Avenue in Gasport, "misused"
about $100,000 of his aunt's money through his "power of attorney." Rupert
told Judge Peter Broderick he and his brother were sole heirs to his aunt.
Broderick observed, "In actuality, you jumped the gun."
Rupert could get up to a year in jail. A civil suit, brought by his aunt's attorney,
is pending against him. (5/8)
Nearly two years later, Lockport man charged with stolen car. In
August 1998 a woman parked her 1991 Oldsmobile in the lot at Wilson Farms on South Transit
at High. On Monday, 5/4, 28-year old Patrick M. Dietz of 6118 Rhulman Road was
arrested by Niagara Falls police on charges of criminal possession of stolen property.
Mr. Dietz was arrested after he reportedly tried to sell the stolen car for $100 at
Portage Road and Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. He was jailed in lieu of $2000
bail. (5/4)
Four Lockportians suspects in over 20 area break-ins. Four young
Lockport men were arrested Friday, 4/23, by Niagara County Sheriff's Investigators who
charged them in connection with over 20 burglaries over the past two years. More
arrests are expected, The Lockport Page has learned. The break-ins
reportedly were all in the Lockport-Gasport area and included "jobs" at two
churches in Gasport: St. Mary's Catholic and Zion Lutheran. The four were
identified as: 20-year old Robert E. Mack Jr. of Otto Park Place; 19-year old
Jeffrey K. Sidebottom and 19-year old John D. Pittsley both of Spalding Street, and
19-year old William J. Pippard of Ridge Road. Not all individuals are charged with
the same burglaries. (4/25)
High school teacher among those arrested on drug charges. A 25-year
old teacher at Niagara Falls High School was charged with third and fourth degree criminal
possession of a controlled substance (with the intent to sell) at her home Friday night,
4/16, according to Niagara Falls Police. She is identified in public papers as Sheri
A. George of Unit #19 at 8431 Buffalo Avenue. Police say she had 7 grams of
cocaine. They say she had been running a drug dealing business out of her apartment
for some time. Also arrested on felony possession charges were 30-year old William G.
Merza of 1744 Elmwood Avenue and 30-year old Karl A. Bauer of 5249 Tuscarora Road.
Police say they have information that indicates Mr. Bauer was Ms. George's
"supplier." Ms. George, who immediately made bail was not going back to
the classroom. The school district, shortly after word of her arrest
circulated, moved to fire here (she did not have tenure). (4/17)
Body of teen found in junk pile behind home. 17-year old Terrance
Adams of Harvard Place, Buffalo, had been shot in head. His body was discovered
Thursday, 4/8, behind a house on Wilson Street in Buffalo's east-side district.
Police are not sure if the the boy was shot there or if the body had
been moved there from elsewhere. Police claim the motive for the killing is
"still under investigation." (4/9)
Dealership gives away customer's car to thief. When Stephen D. Gandel
brought his red Mercury Sable into Jim Doyle Ford for routine service he
expected to have it back that afternoon. But when he returned to the Town of
Tonawanda dealership the vehicle couldn't be found. Seems a technician handed the
keys to a man in a waiting room who said he was waiting to pick up "that red Sable."
With the keys, the man just got into the car and drove away. Late in the week
the car was found, stripped of its stereo system and control panel and about $2000 in
damage caused by crowbar use to remove the "goodies." The dealership
has agreed to repair the damage. Tonawanda police say apprehending the man who drove
away with the vehicle is not a "priority." (4/3)
Maybe they were only trying to help our balance of payments
problem. Two Jamaica men were arrested early Friday morning, 3/26, at the
Lewiston US border entry bridge when they failed to declare packs of $43,000 in cash
hidden in their rental car. U. S. Customs regulations require that any import of
over $10,000 be declared at border crossings. Asked what the money was to be used
for, the men gave no immediate explanation but authorities suspect they intended to
"make some purchases" and then return to Canada. (3/27)
50 Teens caught at booze blast in Pendleton. State Police were
tipped off to the party when they made a routine traffic stop early Saturday, 3/20 of some
teenagers who said they had just left a party at 4114 Beach Ridge Road.
Patrols then moved in on that address where, they say, 20-year old Roque Felix Aguilar was
running a party with under-age drinking out of his parent's home about 2 a.m.
About 45 were charged with underage possession of an alcoholic beverage.
Four, besides Aguilar, were charged with "unlawfully dealing with a
child." Authorities say they confiscated large amounts of beer and alcohol.
(3/21)
Judge under fire for dismissing DWI charges against son of lawyer. The
Buffalo News is reporting that Buffalo City Judge Andrew C. LoTempio has
dismissed DWI charges against a man whose father is a prominent lawyer and friend of the
judge. The report says 44-year old Robert Murphy Jr., who has two previous
convictions for Driving While Impaired, was charged with DWI after his car rammed a
vehicle with Heidi Steckstor in it. Ms. Steckstor, a UB girl's basketball star at
the time, says injuries sustained in the crash have finished her potential career in pro
basketball. She blames Judge LoTempio for letting Murphy get off scot free.
The newspaper says that Mr. Murphy asked for a non-jury trial before Judge LoTempio and
got it. The Judge promptly dismissed the charges, according to the newspaper
report. Public papers indicate Murphy had the smell of alcohol on this breath after
the accident, couldn't get pass the letter "D" in reciting the alphabet, and
refused to take a Breathalyzer test.(3/3)
With friends like this...who needs enemies? A 27-year old Gasport man was
arrested in Lockport (at South and Washburn Streets) Saturday, 2/27 and charged with
fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny. Michael P.
Wolf of 8142 State Street was charged on complaint of his "girlfriend" who
reported money missing from her bank account. According to public papers, it seems
Mr. Wolf needed cash to bail a buddy out of jail so he completed the "necessary
paperwork" to extract $550 from the bank account of Donna J. Prahler of 403 South
Street, Lockport. Ms. Prahler now has an "order of protection" against Mr.
Wolf. (3/1)
Charge child used to conceal drugs. Police at
Niagara Falls say they staged a drug raid at Apartment 1, 9455 Niagara Falls Blvd.,
Saturday night, 2/27. They report finding, as expected, a small quantity of
cocaine and weapons. One of those charged, Nicole Ewing, was about to be
allowed to go free to "take care of the children" when police noticed that a
6-year old had been loaded up with cocaine stuffed in his pocket. Ms. Ewing was then
charged, along with her "housemate," 26-year old Lariccus A. Crittenden.
(2/28)
Third time's the charm. A 30-year old man who had held off police
twice before in the past two years was taken into custody without incident Saturday night,
2/20, in Lewiston. Members of the Niagara County Drug Task Force raided his Center
Street apartment, part of which had been reportedly converted to a marijuana factory.
The weed was being grown, with special indoor lights, in a large walk-in
closet according to public papers. William R. Sdao Jr. faces multiple charges.
Guns and ammo, found at the apartment were not used. (2/22)
Cheektowaga garbage chief fired on again. Two shotgun blasts roared
into the home of Cheetowaga Sanitation Chief Frank C. Max Jr.Friday, 2/19, after one of
his subordinates was ordered in court to pay the town $3000 in restitution for his part in
a reputed kick-back scheme. Mr. Max is generally credited with uncovering corruption
in the Town garbage operation---the highest cost such service in Western New York.
A total of four Cheektowaga garbagemen face court action as a result of the
kick-back allegations. Since the matters have been exposed, Mr. Max has received
numerous threats on his life including a previous assassination attempt in November of
last year. (2/21)
Cops respond when armed robber shouts, "shoot me." Ex-con Floyd
Graham had reportedly just finished the armed robbery of a Buffalo drug store on Jefferson
Avenue Thursday morning, 2/18, when he encountered police outside along East Ferry.
When ordered to "stop," the 41-year old black man allegedly turned on police and
started to go after them with a knife while yelling, "Shoot me, just shoot
me." One officer, who Graham was heading for, accommodated him with one round.
When that didn't stop him, the policeman fired two more rounds. Graham is in
serious condition at a hospital having been hit all three times. His family are
blaming Mr. Graham's action on the "near 20 years he has spent in state
prisons." Buffalo East Side "Community Groups" have already begun to
clamor for an investigation. The officer who defended himself has been put on
"administrative leave." Victims of the armed robbery in the drug store,
who Graham reportedly assaulted during the robbery, were terrorized and did not wish
to speak to media. (2/19)
What was she thinking of when she left the $5,000 in an unlocked office? Children
from the Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church in one of Buffalo's east-side crime districts had
just completed a ten week door-to-door campaign to collect donations to help their church.
The church proudly announces on Sunday an all-time high of nearly $5000 in
cash had been turned in. Monday banks were closed due to President's Day so the
church secretary leaves the cash in the church office and doesn't lock the door.
Tuesday, 2/16, the bag, bulging with money is gone. Church leaders say they are
"shocked." (2/18)
Lack of adequate supervision allows theft of up to $70K at Ft. Niagara.
Officials haven't been able to pin it down yet. However, part-time help
hired during the summer, are the first suspects in a shortfall of between $35,000 and
$70,000 from parking lot and admission fees at Fort Niagara. Nearly six months
later, word leaked out over the weekend that the State had inadequate supervision and
controls on cash receipts at the State Park at Youngstown during the past summer season.
Most of the part-time help were high school and college students. Officials
did not detail who on the State's permanent staff would have overall responsibility for
cash collections. (2/15)
Shrubsall beats another sex rap, still faces ten charges in Canada. He's
got the charm and the luck of Clinton some are saying. Former Niagara Falls
boy-wonder William C. Shrubsall has gotten off the hook on another sex-related arrest in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received a "suspended sentence" Friday, 2/12, in
the matter of "sex harassment" charged placed against him by a former
girlfriend. Now 26 years old, Shrubsall remains in jail in the Atlantic coastal city
to face about ten other Canadian charges. After that he could be brought back to
Niagara County to serve time on numerous other sentences he ran away from in 1996.
Shrubsall, a former honor student at LaSalle High School, started his life of
crime, big-time. In 1988, the day before his high school graduation, he beat his
mother to death with a baseball bat. A lawyer got him out of jail in just 16 months
on that one. Since then he's been referred to as a non-stop one-man crime wave.
However, he has spent little time in jail. A Canadian victim says of him,
"This guy gets off on technicalities. He can work through loopholes."
(2/14) Update: 1/27/00: Shrubsall,
still in jail at Halifax awaiting four criminal trials, lost his appeal on conviction of
"sexual stalking" two years ago. His next trial is scheduled for April 3,
2000. It appears as if it will be a few years yet before he will be returned to the
US to face outstanding charges in Niagara County.
Chinese crawl along railroad bridge to enter USA. Six more of the
illegals were caught early Tuesday morning, 2/9 trying to get into the United States by
crawling along the international Whirlpool railroad bridge at Niagara Falls. An
increasing number of human smugglings are being reported at Niagara Falls in the past
several months after authorities cracked down on traffic in illegals in Northern New York.
(2/9)
Cambria teen faces sex charge. 18-year old Nicholas W. Antonucci of
5167 Kennedy Crescent was arrested Friday, 2/5 and charged with one count of sexual abuse.
The arrest came after an investigation of Mr. Antonucci's relations with a
15-year old girl. (2/6)
4 Chinese caught being smuggled into USA at Lewiston. An alert border agent
suspected something was wrong under the truck at the New York side of the
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge early Sunday morning, 1/31. Upon looking, four Chinese
women, ages 19 to 30 were stashed on a wood frame supported from the truck's underbelly.
They were all suffering from exposure to exhaust fumes. The driver and
the four were uncooperative with authorities who have yet to pin down details of the
operation. (2/1)
$600,000 in artifacts stolen from Buffalo Museum of Science.
It shouldn't take long to figure this one out. The seven African
artifacts were taken from a secure storage area during a one-month period while the
curator of the anthropology department was away. Gone are such items as tusks carved
at the Pan-American Exhibition by African artisans. Only a limited number of
employees had keys to the "secure" area and police indicate a number of
"clues" have been noticed at the scene. (1/28) Update 2/13: Another
collection of African artifacts are reported missing---doubling the number first reported.
Update: 2/25: Officials say a part-time museum guard is
responsible for the thefts. He has reportedly turned items that he hasn't sold over
to authorities. Police were tipped when some of the artifacts were sold to a Buffalo
antique dealer.
Woman claims she was "raped" by unknown man she picks up at bar. A
38-year old Newfane woman tells Niagara County Sheriff's Deputies she was
"raped" by an "unknown" man she "offered a ride
home" to. She met him, she says, in the parking lot of The Burt Hotel
early Saturday morning, 1/23. According to the police report, she was forced to
drive to the area of the West Bluff and Lockwood Heights near Lake Ontario where she was
sexually assaulted. The man then reportedly drove off with her car, leaving her
behind, returning to the bar parking lot before daybreak. She reportedly found her way to
a house in the area where she called for help. Later during Saturday, the woman
claims her "boyfriend" engaged in a "dispute" with her. He
apparently was a bit out sorts because, according to public papers, he kicked in the front
and back doors to her residence and pulled the telephone out of the wall when she
attempted to call for help. (1/24)
Six apprehended at teen drug party. Police at Niagara Falls say they
arrested four teenagers and took two others into custody after a raiding team used a ram
bar to force their way into a home at 1336 Ashland Avenue over the weekend. A large
quantity of suspected crack cocaine was seized. Two girls not arrested both claimed
to be juveniles and one claimed to be pregnant. They were released into the custody
of adults while juvenile authorities take over their cases. (1/18)
15-year old shot during teen rumble at Niagara Falls housing project. The
girl was shot when two groups of teens were involved in a confrontation at the Jordan
Gardens housing project. Two rounds were fired according to first reports.
Police had a suspect identified Tuesday evening, 1/12, shooting and
apprehended a 14-year old boy Wednesday. He was charged with First-Degree
Assault and authorities held out the possibility that he could be treated as an
"adult." The girl, whose identity police have not revealed, was rushed to
the hospital for treatment and is expected to recover. (1/13)
Woman robbed at gunpoint in her driveway. A 37-year old Village of
Lewiston woman was approached by three men at gunpoint early Thursday morning upon
returning by auto to her home at 708 Onondaga Street about 3:50 a.m. Holding a gun
to her head, the men demanded the money of Joanne Rose and took off with her 1999 Pontiac
Grand Am automobile. The car was spotted by a State Police helicopter shortly
thereafter on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation. Teams of police with dogs converged
on the Reservation before dawn but the gunmen were able to "disappear" in an
area increasingly being referred to as a sanctuary for crime in the Niagara County area.
The desperados were reported driving a 1987 Cadillac Eldorado reported
stolen December 24th in Niagara Falls. It, too, was found on the Indian Reservation.
State Police say they have some "suspects" but no charges have been
placed. Late Wednesday night (12/30) in Niagara Falls a deli delivery man was robbed
at gunpoint of $100 when he stopped for a traffic light. Authorities
are investigating possible connections between several armed holdups in the past five
days. (1/1/99)
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