North Tonawanda Man Sentenced to 28 Months for Drug Charge

BUFFALO—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Wesley Albert, 30, of North Tonawanda, New York, who was convicted of trafficking in cocaine and marijuana, was sentenced to 28 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, who is handling the case, the defendant distributed three kilograms of cocaine and 10 kilograms of marijuana between 2007 and 2009. Albert sold cocaine to many customers at Papa Joe’s Restaurant at 2546 Niagara Falls Boulevard. The defendant also stored marijuana at the residence of his sister, Stephanie Eberz, located at 2505 Tonawanda Creek Road.

Stephanie Eberz, 28, of Amherst, New York, pleaded guilty in October to allowing Albert to store marijuana at her Amherst residence. Eberz faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both when sentenced later this month.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; officers from the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Niagara County Sheriff James Votour; the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Chella; and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Askey.