BUFFALO — A 48-year-old Buffalo man was sentenced Friday to 49 months in prison for manufacturing ‘Molotov cocktails.’
According to U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., William Lovell Smith assisted in manufacturing at least two Molotov cocktails — devices generally consisting of glass bottles filled with gasoline around which are placed a fuse or method of ignition, and are designed to ignite and burn upon breaking. The particular devices were used on Nov. 1, 2011, for the purpose of burning an occupied dwelling on Schreck Avenue.
The successful prosecution was the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge, Delano A. Reid, and the Buffalo Fire Investigation Unit under the direction of Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield.
Smith will also have three years supervised release, also included restitution in the amount of $70,000, to be paid to the victim.