Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Donel L. Cathcart of Buffalo was arraigned yesterday evening before West Seneca Town Court Justice Jeffrey M. Harrington on two separate criminal files related to his recent arrest for alleged possession of narcotics with intent to sell.
It is alleged that on Monday, February 26, 2024, at approximately 10:38 a.m., deputies saw the defendant, who was the subject of a narcotics investigation, fail to signal while making a left turn on Paxford Place in the Town of West Seneca. During a traffic stop, the defendant allegedly removed a bag of suspected cocaine from his person. He was subsequently detained. During a further in-custody search, the defendant was allegedly found in possession of two additional small bags of narcotics believed to be quantities of suspected crack cocaine and suspected fentanyl.
Cathcart was charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class “B” felonies), one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class “E” felony) and one count of Illegal Signal (violation under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law).
It is further alleged that on Monday, February 26, 2024, at approximately 2:37 p.m., a search warrant was executed at an upper apartment on Benson Avenue in the Town of West Seneca. Investigators allegedly found a quantity of suspected fentanyl, scales, packaging materials and a large sum of cash inside of the apartment.
The defendant was also charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance in the First Degree (Class “A” felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class “B” felony) and three counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors).
Cathcart is scheduled to return to West Seneca Town Court on both files on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail.
It is also alleged that on Monday, February 26, 2024, at approximately 1:59 p.m., investigators executed another search warrant of defendant’s lower apartment on 100 block of Whitehall Avenue in the City of Buffalo. Investigators found a quantity of suspected cocaine, a quantity of suspected morphine, a quantity of suspected methamphetamine, scales, packaging materials and large sum of cash.
Cathcart was arraigned yesterday afternoon before Buffalo City Court Judge Diane Wray on one count of Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance in the First Degree (Class “A-I” felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class “B” felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree (Class “C” felonies) and counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors).
He is scheduled to return to Buffalo City Court on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail.
DA Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Intelligence Unit, Buffalo Police Department Intelligence Unit and Homeland Security Investigations for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Ryan D. Haggerty of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.