Heroin Ring Claims Life, Lands Four in Federal Lockup

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A deadly dose of heroin, possibly laced with the even more potent fentanyl, has led to federal charges against four men in Western New York. The investigation, sparked by the February 28th overdose death of a man in Hamburg, has exposed a network allegedly supplying the streets with dangerous narcotics.

John Haak, 33, of Evans, NY, and Francis Tessina, 43, of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged with distribution of heroin and conspiracy to distribute heroin. According to court documents, text messages recovered from the deceased victim’s phone revealed he’d received heroin from Haak shortly before his death. Haak, in turn, allegedly obtained the heroin from Tessina. Disturbingly, Haak warned the victim via text to “be careful” with the drugs, suspecting they contained fentanyl – a potent opioid often added to heroin to increase its effect, and the risk of overdose.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel stated that Tessina faces an additional charge of selling heroin on March 9, 2015. Both Haak and Tessina appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. Haak was released under conditions and is scheduled to return to court on March 20, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. Tessina remains in custody, pending a detention hearing on March 16, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. A conviction on the heroin distribution and conspiracy charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

In a separate but related case, Trent Adair Hamilton, 33, of Lockport, NY, and Michael Paul Mitchell, 33, of Niagara Falls, NY, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin. Hamilton also faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute heroin, while Mitchell is additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. These charges are significantly steeper, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a potential $5,000,000 fine.

Hamilton and Mitchell were arraigned before Judge McCarthy on March 10, 2015, and are currently being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 13, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. The investigation leading to their indictments was a multi-agency effort involving the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, Lockport Police, Niagara Falls Police, North Tonawanda Police, New York State Police, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, alongside the Hamburg and Evans Police Departments, led the initial investigation into the overdose death and subsequent charges against Haak and Tessina. Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt oversaw the DEA’s involvement. It’s crucial to remember that these are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments.