BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a four count indictment charging Giovanni Salmonson, 23, of Olean, NY, with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute buprenorphine (suboxone), possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of life, $250,000 or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caleb J. Petzoldt, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on Jan. 1, 2015, during the course of an investigation, the Olean Police Department discovered the defendant to be in possession of quantities of heroin buprenorphine. In addition, Salmonson also had a.22 caliber revolver. The defendant was previously convicted on state charges which prevent him from legally possessing a firearm.
The defendant will be arraigned on March 20, 2015 at 10:15 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.
The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
