Former Truck Driver Charged with Witness Tampering

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a criminal complaint has been issued charging Kevin L. Donaldson, 45, of Salamanca, NY, with intimidating and persuading a witness with the intent to influence the testimony of the witness in a court proceeding currently pending in federal court. The charges carry maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated the defendant is currently incarcerated at the Niagara County Jail and awaiting trial on a federal indictment charging him with transporting two minor victims in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in sexual activity with them. The complaint alleges that between December 7, 2010 and December 23, 2010, Donaldson wrote three letters to one of the victims in an attempt to influence the testimony of the victim. Specifically, the defendant told the victim that he intended to call the victim to the stand at his trial and that she should testify that “nothing happened.”

The filing of the criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James H. Robertson.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on the criminal complaint for February 3, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.