Amherst Man Pleads Guilty to Drug & Weapons Charges

Modified: February 4, 2019 5:15pm

Latest News

2/4/2019

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 38-year-old Adriane Harris of Amherst pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski 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.

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 8 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 Airport, she was in possession of over $40,000 in cash.

In total, officers recovered over $100,000 in cash.

Harris faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.

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.