Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 36-year-old Ashley M. Holmes of Kenmore pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class “E” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, the highest sustainable homicide charge, in full satisfaction of the indictment.
On Saturday, August 19, 2023, the defendant was arrested following an investigation into a fatal overdose that occurred on Linden Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant knowingly and unlawfully sold a quantity of fentanyl-laced cocaine to the victim, 47-year-old Robert R. Chimera, which resulted in his death. During the investigation, a quantity of fentanyl-laced cocaine was found in the defendant’s bedroom at her residence in the Village of Kenmore.
Holmes faces a maximum of 4 years in prison when she is sentenced on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. She remains held on bail set at $500,000 cash or bond.
Acting DA Keane commends Detective Judy Walker and members of the Buffalo Police Department Homicide Squad and Narcotics Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Justin T. Wallens of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau.
This is the second opiate-related homicide case to be indicted and successfully prosecuted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office since January 2017. In November 2018, a Town of Tonawanda man pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony), the highest count in the indictment, for knowingly giving crushed opiate pills to an intoxicated female companion. The victim, who believed the substance was powder cocaine, died from an overdose. The defendant was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.
“Too many people in Erie County have either died from an overdose or have been impacted by this epidemic as the number of confirmed deaths continues to rise. I encourage anyone who is struggling with substance abuse disorder to seek help as these addictive street drugs could be laced with a deadly amount of fentanyl. We are committed to efforts to curb this deadly epidemic. My office will continue to prosecute people who peddle this poison,” said Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder, help is available through the Erie County 24 Hour Addiction Hotline at 716-831-7007.