BUFFALO — A Niagara Falls man convicted of possessing and distributing cocaine in the city will serve time in federal prison.
U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo sentenced Jason P. Hoy, 46, of the Falls, to 33 months behind bars for his conviction on a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Federal prosecutors said that in May 2023, drug task force investigators executed a search warrant at Hoy’s home in the city and seized bags “containing a crystal rock-like substance, a bag containing a grey powdery substance, three bags containing a white powdery substance, three bags containing various colored pills, and a bag containing green plant matter.” All of the substances later tested positive for the presence of narcotics.
In addition to the narcotics, investigators recovered a pair of brass knuckles, a collapsible baton, a digital scale and a police scanner.
Niagara County Drug Task Force investigators also announced that they arrested a North Tonawanda man on drug and weapons possession charges.
Tre Smitherman, 31, of North Tonawanda, was taken into custody on a criminal complaint that charged him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1 million fine.
On Nov. 6, NCDTF investigators executed a search warrant at Smitherman’s Oliver Street home. They also searched a vehicle that was being sought in connection with their investigation of Smitherman.
During the searches, investigators recovered a loaded pistol, quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $3,789 in cash. Smitherman was convicted in 2014 of a felony crime in New York state and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.