Tonawanda Man Gets 5 Years for Crack Cocaine Possession

Anthony Perry, 28, of Tonawanda, NY, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 60 months for possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, marks the end of a case rooted in a no-knock raid that exposed a significant drug stash in a quiet suburban apartment.

On April 10, 2015, a joint task force of the Tonawanda Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at Perry’s residence. What they found went far beyond casual possession: approximately 48 grams of crack cocaine and an additional 28 grams of powdered cocaine were seized from the apartment, evidence prosecutors say confirms intent to push drugs on the street.

Perry was convicted on federal charges after the evidence survived legal scrutiny, sealing his fate under strict sentencing guidelines for crack-related offenses. Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the outcome, emphasizing the collaboration between local and federal law enforcement in dismantling drug operations in Western New York.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who argued that the quantity and packaging of the narcotics left little doubt about Perry’s role in the distribution chain. Crack cocaine, a cheap but highly addictive form of the drug, has long fueled violence and addiction in communities across the region, making cases like this a top enforcement priority.

The investigation was led by the DEA under Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, directed by Chief Jerome C. Uschold. Task force work between local cops and federal agents continues to drive prosecutions in the opioid and stimulant crisis gripping upstate New York.

Perry now begins a five-year sentence in federal custody, with no early release expected. His case underscores the long reach of federal drug laws—and the steep price of getting caught in the machinery of the criminal justice system with a stash of crack in the bedroom closet.