Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Francisco Valencia of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a “B” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge contained in the indictment.

In June 2018, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the home of the defendant.  The defendant was home when the deputies entered. While searching the residence, the deputies recovered a bag containing over ½ ounce of heroin and fentanyl, as well as paraphernalia for the sale of drugs. Defendant admitted that there was $15,000 in his house that he and others were going to use to buy more drugs. DNA testing linked defendant to the drugs recovered.

Valencia faces a maximum sentence of 9 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 1 at 9:30 a.m.  

DA Flynn commends the members of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Paul J. Williams III, Chief of the DA’s Narcotics Bureau.