UNITED STATES v. PETER GIGLIA

BUFFALO, N.Y. – United States Attorney for the Western District of New York Terrance P. Flynn announced today the sentencing of PETER GIGLIA, age 47, of Buffalo, New York, who pled guilty on March 19, 2008, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine. Mr. Giglia was sentenced by Honorable William M. Skretny, United States District Judge, to a term of 60 months imprisonment to the Bureau of Prisons, 5 year supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit to the government property obtained from his drug distribution profits including Buffalo investment property, Florida real estate, two classic automobiles, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and $25,000 in U.S. currency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was the subject of an investigation into cocaine trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Amherst Police Department, and New York State Police Department. As part of the investigation, Court-authorized wiretaps were obtained on GIGLIA's cellular telephone which disclosed extensive drug distribution activities. Search warrants executed by the investigation team also recovered over 3 kilograms of cocaine secreted by GIGLIA. As a result of the investigation, to date, 11 people have been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the drug distribution ring.

The conviction was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett, Special Agent in Charge, the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief John C. Askey, and the New York State Police Department, under the direction of Major Matthew S. Renneman.