Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced the arraignment of Dino Bruscia, 25, of Orchard Park, before New York State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia on one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” violent felony, and one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class “A” misdemeanor.

Bruscia was arrested and indicted following an intense investigation by members of the Buffalo Police Department’s Intel Unit, the Erie Crime Analysis Center, and Flynn’s Tactical Prosecution Unit. The investigation began when Bruscia posted threats to another individual on social media while brandishing a firearm.

According to Flynn, members of the three different agencies worked in close collaboration to identify and locate Bruscia. After he was located, the same agencies collaborated to prepare search warrants that led to Bruscia’s arrest and the recovery of important physical evidence. DA Flynn credits Buffalo Police Detectives Jayson Mayhook and Tom Herbert, and Crime Analyst Kathryn Billanti.

Flynn is hopeful that the investigation and prosecution of Bruscia will serve as a model for other important investigations, particularly investigations involving drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and gang violence. “Members of all three agencies worked as a single, integrated unit to locate and recover important physical evidence and crucial eyewitnesses, who otherwise would have gone unidentified. As criminals become more sophisticated in how they plan and perpetrate their crimes, we as investigators and prosecutors must adapt. I could not be more proud of the work of these agencies.” Bruscia faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. The next court date is scheduled on March 14 at 10:30 a.m. Assistant District Attorney Ryan Haggerty is prosecuting the case.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.