Buffalo Cop Caught with Coke Gets 6 Months Home Confinement

A former Erie County Sheriff’s Deputy has been sentenced to six months of home confinement for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, according to U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. Thomas J. Blajszczak, 44, of Lancaster, N.Y., was convicted of the crime and sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Blajszczak was intercepted in November and December of 2009, pursuant to a court-authorized wiretap, communicating with an a cocaine supplier named Jose De Leon, who was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The conversations between Blajszczak and De Leon established that the defendant was receiving cocaine for his personal use while employed by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department. At that time, the defendant owned and was in possession of a Glock, Model No. 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

During an interview with the FBI, Blajszczak admitted that part of a monetary debt referenced during some of the intercepted telephone conversations related to money owed by the defendant to his cocaine supplier for pound cocaine. Blajszczak further admitted that he provided at least one box of 9mm ammunition, and one box of .45 caliber ammunition, to Jose De Leon.

The sentencing is part of an FBI investigation which resulted in the arrest of a group of individuals between December 2009 and February 2010, who were involved in trafficking kilograms of cocaine from sources in Puerto Rico, and in New Jersey, and re-distributing the cocaine to drug dealers and users in Buffalo New York. The defendant is the 27th person convicted in the investigation.

The New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, also assisted in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hochul praised the law enforcement agencies involved in the case, stating that they worked tirelessly to bring the defendant to justice.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions. Blajszczak’s conviction and sentencing demonstrate that no one is above the law, and that those who break the law will be held accountable.

The sentencing is a culmination of the hard work and dedication of the law enforcement agencies involved in the case. It is a testament to their commitment to keeping our communities safe and free from crime.