James Nelson, Drug Possession, New York 2017

Buffalo, NY - A Tonawanda man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for drug possession near a high school.

On December 11, 2017, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department executed a state search warrant at James Nelson's residence at 11 Fayette Avenue in Tonawanda.

Nelson, 63, was found in the living room area of the residence. Investigators recovered suspected crack cocaine, numerous pills containing suspected controlled substances, two compact digital scales, and approximately $1,442 in U.S. currency.

Subsequent testing determined that the substances recovered included crack cocaine, diazepam, oxycodone, butalbital, hydrocodone, and alprazolam.

The defendant's residence is located within 1,000 feet of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, a private secondary school, located at 845 Kenmore Avenue in Buffalo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren A. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that Nelson was convicted of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone within 1,000 feet of a private school.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief James P. Stauffiger and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.

Nelson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to serve 24 months in prison.

Contact: Barbara Burns, (716) 843-5817, (716) 551-3051, Fax #.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/tonawanda-man-sentenced-drug-possession-near-high-school