Buffalo Man Sentenced for Heroin Conspiracy

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jay Vellon, 40, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, was sentenced to 100 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, who handled the case, stated that between June 2008 and February 2010, Vellon conspired with others to distribute heroin in the Buffalo area. The defendant was charged, along with 26 others, in March 2010 following a joint federal, state and local takedown at Rick’s Tally Ho in Cheektowaga and 24K Solid Gold in Hamburg. To date, 26 defendants have been convicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser was also involved in the prosecution of this case.

            The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel.