BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Janine McKenney, 42, of Olean, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of life, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that on February 17, 2025, Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a female slumped over in a vehicle at a gas station in Springville, NY. When deputies arrived, the female had departed the gas station. A short time later, they located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the driver, later identified as McKenney, provided a false name to deputies. She was detained after a deputy observed a glass pipe designed for smoking crack cocaine in the. While exiting the vehicle, McKenney appeared to be attempting to conceal a suspected crack cocaine rock, which came to rest on the driver’s seat of the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies discovered a quantity of narcotics, including methamphetamine. The following day, on February 18, 2025, deputies conducted an intake search of McKenney at the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Holding Center and discovered three bags of suspected narcotics on McKenney’s person. A subsequent search of McKenney’s cell phone various photographs of ledgers, firearms, and suspected narcotics that appear to be packaged for sale.
Later in the evening on February 18, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at McKenney’s Olean residence. McKenney utilized her residence while engaging in drug trafficking activities. During the search, quantities of suspected cocaine, morphine pills, and drug paraphernalia were recovered. In addition, three loaded pistols, ammunition and $2519.00 in cash was also recovered. Two of the three pistols were previously reported stolen. In November 2014, McKenney was convicted of a drug felony in New York State Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Amie Feroleto.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.