BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging David Masse, 46, of North Tonawanda, NY, with false declarations before a grand jury, obstruction of justice, and accessory after the fact. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caleb J. Petzoldt, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment on Nov. 12, 2014, the defendant was called to testify in a case involving Filip Caruso. Masse testified falsely that Caruso was not in passion of a.32 caliber revolver prior to a traffic stop on Feb. 25, 2014 in the City of Buffalo. Filip Caruso is currently under indictment for being a felon in possession of a weapon.
Masse was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
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
