3 arrested by Erie County Sheriff’s Office in separate drug, gun busts
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Three men were arrested after authorities found over a dozen guns and pounds of drugs in separate busts, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.
Two of the men are behind bars as of Wednesday and the other was released after posting bail. Authorities said the arrests have no relation to one another.
“That is the ultimate goal of law enforcement is to prevent crime and save lives before this poison hits the streets,” said Erie County Sheriff John Garcia.
35-year-old Christian Burgos-Ramos of Buffalo, 35-year-old Dellsean Hamilton of Buffalo and 41-year-old Joseph Krempa of Amherst are all facing gun and drug-related charges.
Police said they searched two homes on Monday — one on Fougeron street and another on Langfield Drive that Burgos-Ramos frequented. Authorities found more than a pound and a half of cocaine and a loaded Glock left unlocked around three children.
“One of the kids was very autistic and for an illegal firearm to be out there, who knows what could have happened,” Garcia said.
A house in Amherst was searched on Tuesday, which led to the arrest of Krempa. Police said they found 11 guns, fentanyl and meth. Police said a minor was also inside the residence and had access to the narcotics.
“They’re protecting their drug territory with these illegal weapons,” Garcia said. “This individual is not allowed to have any of these weapons. He’s a violent felon.”
“Possessing ten or more firearms, that carries with it a sentence of as much as 25 years in state prison and then the 11 separate counts for the crime, possession of a weapon in the second degree carry as much as 15 years in state prison,” said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane.
Authorities said they searched a home known to Hamilton on Poplar Avenue and found over a pound and a half of fentanyl and half a pound of cocaine. Officials said Hamilton sold drugs to his own mother, causing her to overdose.
“For his own mother to overdose on his product, he does not care about the people he is selling these drugs to,” Garcia said.
While there is no connection between the three, the one commonality is that each are repeat offenders, however, Burgos-Ramos and Krempa were offered bail. Burgos-Ramos posted it and is now out on the street.
Former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said new bail reform laws and the criminal justice movement are to blame.
“These advocates have made the argument they should be out that no one should be in jail for drugs much too, in my opinion, the detriment of society,” Flynn said. “If you’re dealing it and you’re a drug dealer of fentanyl you need be put in a category of a violent criminal.”
Hamilton faces up to 15 years in prison. No arraignment date has been scheduled for him yet.
Burgos-Ramos is due back in court on Friday. It is unclear how long he could be locked up if found guilty.
Krempa was arraigned in Amherst Town Court and faces upwards of 25 years in prison for the highest charge.
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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
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