CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Daniel Volonino, Jr., 29, Ronald Lockwood, 43, and Michael Ingham, 23, all of Rochester, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and distributing oxycodone, a Scheduled II controlled substance. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between October 2016 to January 2017, Lockwood was prescribed oxycodone by a health care provider. The prescription included 500 30 mg pills per month. Law enforcement officers received an anonymous letter stating that Lockwood was selling the oxycodone pills to “someone named Dan-last name unknown.”
As a result of this anonymous letter, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York State Attorney General’s Office began an investigation which included surveillance of Lockwood and the use of a GPS tracking device. A search warrant was also obtained for text messages on Lockwood’s cellular telephone.
During the investigation, defendant Volonino was identified as the buyer of the oxycodone pills. As a result, law enforcement officers began conducting surveillance on Volonino as well. During that surveillance, defendant Ingham was also identified as a member of the conspiracy.
The three defendants were arrested Thursday morning at which time 498 oxycodone pills were seized and a large amount of cash. In addition, a Cadillac Escalade driven by Volonino was also seized.
Volonino, Lockwood and Ingham made an initial appearance Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and were released.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge, James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control unit, under the direction of Eric Schneiderman.
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.
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