Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 38-year-old Adriane Harris of Amherst has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to a determinate sentence of 5 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On May 7, 2018, narcotics officers from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at storage units belonging to the defendant in the Town of Amherst. Officers seized more than eight ounces of cocaine, a loaded pistol, an Audi, a Porsche, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash from inside the two storage units.

The defendant was apprehended as he pulled into the driveway of his residence on Skinnersville Road. During a search of the BMW he was driving, officers found more cocaine, cash, and another loaded pistol. Officers also seized a second Porsche parked at the defendant’s residence.

Additional cash was seized days later after police received information that one of Harris’s associates was flying in from Florida and carrying a large quantity of money. When police stopped the associate at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, she was in possession of over $40,000 in cash.

In total, officers recovered more than $100,000 in cash.

In February 2019, Harris pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class “A” felony, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class “C” violent felonies.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, including Chief Daniel J. Granville of the Narcotics Unit.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James W. Mansour, II of the DA’s Narcotics Unit.