BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Tracy Bankston, 52, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon with three prior violent felony or serious drug offense convictions, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The defendant will also forfeit the firearms, ammunition, and $12,500 that were seized during the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Volkert, Jr., who handled the case, stated that on Dec. 16, 2016, Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant at 53 Benzinger Street in Buffalo. Inside Bankston’s bedroom, police recovered over 28 grams of crack cocaine, two ounces of marijuana, scales, baggies, a Smith and Wesson.357 caliber revolver, and a TEC-9 9mm pistol with an extended clip as well as nearly 100 rounds of.357 and 9mm ammunition. Also seized in the raid was $12,050 in cash recovered from a safe.
The defendant was previously convicted on three serious offenses including a felony drug offense in 2006, an Attempted Robbery conviction in 1996, and another Attempted Robbery conviction in 1988.
Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of John B. Devito, Special Agent-in- Charge, New York Field Division; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; and the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Daniel Denz.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
