Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine, Gun Charges

Crack cocaine and a loaded .38 caliber revolver were found stashed inside Philip Vincent’s Niagara Falls home during a fugitive raid, leading directly to the 39-year-old’s guilty plea on federal drug and firearm charges, federal prosecutors announced today.

Vincent admitted in court to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking during proceedings before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, a maximum sentence of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.

The arrest unfolded on December 2, 2014, when the U.S. Marshals Violent Felony Fugitive Task Force arrived at Vincent’s 20th Street residence searching for another suspect. Inside, officers discovered not only a firearm but also marijuana plants and a quantity of crack cocaine, evidence that quickly shifted focus to the homeowner.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan T. Cullinane and George C. Burgasser, who are prosecuting the case, said the discovery pointed to an active drug operation being run from the property. The gun, loaded and readily accessible, was tied directly to Vincent’s drug trafficking activities, prosecutors emphasized.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, the U.S. Marshals Service led by Marshal Charles Salina, and the Niagara Falls Police Department under Chief Bryan DalPorto. Their joint operation underscores the ongoing crackdown on violent crime in Western New York.

Vincent, of Niagara Falls, NY, is scheduled for sentencing on May 11, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Geraci. No plea deal details were disclosed, but the mandatory minimum ensures Vincent will serve significant prison time if the judge follows federal sentencing guidelines.

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