Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III announced that 26 year-old Charles Hood of Bronx, NY was convicted as charged of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree following a jury trial before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns.

On June 24, 2013, while serving a sentence in Gowanda Correction Facility, Hood was found in possession of a shaving razor blade that had been fashioned into a weapon. The weapon was recovered on the defendant’s person and he promptly admitted to possessing it.

Despite the overwhelming proof of his guilt, Hood’s attorney, Jeffrey Santoro, insisted the weapon was planted on his client as part of a conspiracy to frame him. Neither the defendant nor his attorney offered a shred of evidence to support this pretense.

Having completed his prison sentence for robbery, Hood now faces up to seven more years in state prison when sentenced by Justice Burns on November 18, 2014 at 9:30 am.

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James R. Gardner, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.