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Press Release

Cheektowaga Man Arrested On Drug And Gun Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James Fox, 38, of Cheektowaga, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with maintaining a drug premises and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on February 3, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Fox’s residence on Beach Road in Cheektowaga, NY. During the execution of the search warrant, among other items, investigators seized a loaded shotgun; additional rounds of ammunition; Narcan; two electrical tasers; and a stun gun. The Government alleges that Fox frequently used his residence to solicit prostitutes, many of whom were addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, and that Fox provided some of the prostitutes with illegal narcotic in exchange for sex acts.

Fox is being held following a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.  

The complaint is a result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Karn. Jr. and Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould.

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.  

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Updated February 11, 2022

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids
Firearms Offenses