Joseph Bella, Multiple Crimes, New York 2023

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A Buffalo man has been sentenced to prison for multiple crimes, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a drug user in possession of a firearm, and wire fraud.

Joseph Bella, 50, of Buffalo, NY, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

According to court documents, Bella was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a drug user in possession of a firearm, and wire fraud.

In April 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Bella’s residence and recovered drug paraphernalia and quantities of cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana. Investigators also recovered a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition.

In addition to his conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Bella defrauded a Salt Lake City, Utah, corporation that developed and manufactured COVID-19 test kits by falsely representing that his company, Medcor Staffing, Inc., was laboratory certified to perform high-complexity molecular testing.

Bella also fraudulently obtained a loan from the Small Business Association under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program by submitting a falsified application that grossly inflated his company’s annual revenue and underreported its annual expenses.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Buffalo Police Department.

Defendant Name: Joseph Bella

Exact Criminal Charges: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a drug user in possession of a firearm, and wire fraud

City and State: Buffalo, New York

Exact Date: April 2020 (search warrant executed)

Sentence or Outcome: 42 months in prison

Dollar Amounts: $149,900 loan obtained from the Small Business Association under the EIDL Program

Companies Involved: Medcor Staffing, Inc., BuyMyCard, a purchaser and re-seller of gift cards

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/buffalo-man-going-prison-multiple-drug-gun-and-covid-19-fraud-crimes