Clarence Center Man Indicted On Multiple Drug And Gun Charges

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Anthony Gerace, 39, of Clarence, NY, with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $500,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, on January 28, 2019, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s current residence at 9070 Michael Douglas Drive, Clarence Center, NY. Agents recovered multiple pounds of marijuana and other suspected marijuana products including gummy edibles and multiple pens of THC oil cartridges used for vaping; five handguns; nine rifles; hundreds of rounds of ammunition in various calibers; three cell phones; $103,360 in cash; and evidence of sports gambling. 

The indictment seeks forfeiture of the defendant’s Douglas Drive residence, and the $103,360 in cash, firearms, and ammunition seized from the residence.  

The defendant was arraigned today before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and released on conditions.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Askey; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.    

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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