The Major Crimes Unit (MCU) is a specialized bureau dedicated to prosecuting gun-related crimes in Erie County. It is comprised of five experienced Assistant District Attorneys who have a proven record of trial skills.
Many of the cases involving victims of gun violence involve reluctant witnesses. The seasoned prosecutors in the MCU, led by Chief John P. Feroleto, have training in handling these types of cases and securing testimonial evidence. The Unit collaborates daily with the Homicide Squad of the Buffalo Police Department as well as investigating officers from suburban agencies and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The Unit also works closely with Federal law enforcement agencies and the Erie County Central Police Services Firearms Laboratory.
The MCU works aggressively to monitor and respond to escalating gang violence. Each member of the unit tracks the activity of an assigned gang. Working with the Erie Crime Analysis Center and law enforcement, prosecutors attempt to detect and prevent gun violence before it occurs by identifying on-going feuds and developing strategic leads to interrupt the violence. If gun violence does occur, the assigned prosecutor will meet victims at the hospital or consult with other known gang members to identify and disrupt the feuding gangs.
All of the members of the Unit are funded by a New York State grant program known as G.I.V.E. (Gun Involved Violence Elimination). The grant requires that the prosecutors only work on gun-related crimes and coordinate with the other G.I.V.E. partners that include the Buffalo Police Department, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Erie County Probation, New York State Parole, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Division of Criminal Justice Services oversees the grant and regularly inspects the progress of the Unit as well as the statistics related to gun violence in Erie County.
In addition to their caseload, members of the Unit serve as the “on-call prosecutor” on a rotating basis. When they are “on-call,” the Assistant District Attorney from the Unit is available 24/7 on the Bureau’s cellphone. All law enforcement agencies in Erie County can request assistance with urgent legal issues or with obtaining search warrants. The Assistant District Attorney may also assist at the crime scene with investigation at the earliest stages.