North Tonawanda Man Sentenced for Selling Cocaine and Setting a Car on Fire

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that William Hutchins, 37, of North Tonawanda, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and maliciously destroying a vehicle by means of a fire, was sentenced to 37 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, between January 2009 and July 27, 2009, the defendant conspired with others to distribute cocaine to customers in Niagara and Northern Erie Counties. Hutchins obtained the cocaine and then sold it at, among other places, a restaurant on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls, New York. In addition, on May 23, 2008, the defendant poured gasoline in the back seat of a 1998 Mazda and ignited it, causing damage. At the time, the vehicle was used by another person for drug trafficking.

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 Brian P. Boetig; the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of 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.