Brother and Sister Plead Guilty to Drug Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 25, 2011 |
BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Wesley Albert, 30, of North Tonawanda, New York, pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine and marijuana before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000 or both. In addition, Albert’s sister, Stephanie Eberz, 28, of Amherst, New York, pleaded guilty plea 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.
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.
The pleas are the culmination of an investigation on the part of 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.
Wesley Albert will be sentenced on February 16, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara. Stephanie Eberz will be sentenced on February 22, 2010 at 12:30 p.m., also before Judge Arcara.