Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced today the formation of the Tactical Prosecution Unit of the Felony Trial Bureau. Working in conjunction with the Erie Crime Analysis Center, the duties of prosecutors assigned to this elite unit will include the prosecution of gang members, felony-level juvenile offenders, and those who commit violent crimes against especially vulnerable victims; complex narcotics investigations; officer involved shooting investigations; and, special assignments as determined by the District Attorney.

Like those prosecutors assigned to District Attorney’s Office Homicide Bureau, prosecutors assigned to the Tactical Prosecution Unit of the Felony Trial Bureau will be available to provide legal advice and any other form of assistance to all police agencies 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. DA Sedita stated, “after several months of careful analysis and planning, we believe this new prosecution unit will be able to more efficiently identify and target the most dangerous and violent criminals for criminal prosecution.”

Led by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher J. Belling, the following veteran prosecutors are assigned to the Tactical Prosecution Unit: Principal Narcotics Prosecutor Mary Beth DePasquale; Senior Operation Impact Prosecutor Michael Felicetta; Assistant District Attorney John Feroleto; and, Chief Juvenile Justice Prosecutor Paul Parisi. DA Confidential Criminal Investigator Phil Torre, a former detective with the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad and former head of the Buffalo Police Department Crime Scene Unit, is also assigned to the Tactical Prosecution Unit.