A Cheektowaga man who kept dealing marijuana after he was arrested twice in Buffalo with pounds of pot in rental cars he was driving was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison.
Before Andre Sumpter was sentenced on weapon and drug charges, he complained to Erie County Judge Thomas P. Franczyk about how his cases were handled by his attorney and started cursing.
The judge warned Sumpter that he would be held in contempt of court if he continued cursing.
He then sentenced Sumpter to prison terms of seven years for second-degree weapon possession, four years for first-degree criminal possession of marijuana and 2½ years for second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. He ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Sumpter, 31, of Harlem Road, pleaded guilty to the charges in January in two cases dating back to 2012.
In the first case, prosecutors said Sumpter on June 15, 2012, led police on a high-speed chase before abandoning his rental car and fleeing on foot, leaving behind more than 30 pounds of marijuana and a loaded .38-caliber revolver.
He remained at large until June 25, 2012, when he was arrested in another rental car with 4½ pounds of marijuana and $2,300 in cash.
After posting $100,000 bail, he continued to deal marijuana, prosecutors said. He was arrested Feb. 2, 2013, in Buffalo on a charge of fifth-degree marijuana possession after he was found with a half-ounce of pot and $3,900 in cash.
He was continued free on bail but was arrested 10 days later in Buffalo on a charge of fourth-degree marijuana possession when police raided a drug house on Courtland Avenue and found him with 710 bags of pot and $1,245 in cash.
Prosecutors said the drug house had a surveillance system, barricaded doors, an emaciated pit bull locked in a crate, and a mail slot that Sumpter used as a delivery system for customers.
After his fourth arrest, his bail was revoked.
He was convicted in both the 2013 drug cases in Buffalo City Court and was sentenced to time served.
In Erie County Court, Sumpter, a second violent felony offender as well as a second felony drug offender, faced a minimum prison term of seven years and a maximum of 19½ years, according to Assistant District Attorney Michael Felicetta.
email: jstaas@buffnews.com
Before Andre Sumpter was sentenced on weapon and drug charges, he complained to Erie County Judge Thomas P. Franczyk about how his cases were handled by his attorney and started cursing.
The judge warned Sumpter that he would be held in contempt of court if he continued cursing.
He then sentenced Sumpter to prison terms of seven years for second-degree weapon possession, four years for first-degree criminal possession of marijuana and 2½ years for second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. He ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Sumpter, 31, of Harlem Road, pleaded guilty to the charges in January in two cases dating back to 2012.
In the first case, prosecutors said Sumpter on June 15, 2012, led police on a high-speed chase before abandoning his rental car and fleeing on foot, leaving behind more than 30 pounds of marijuana and a loaded .38-caliber revolver.
He remained at large until June 25, 2012, when he was arrested in another rental car with 4½ pounds of marijuana and $2,300 in cash.
After posting $100,000 bail, he continued to deal marijuana, prosecutors said. He was arrested Feb. 2, 2013, in Buffalo on a charge of fifth-degree marijuana possession after he was found with a half-ounce of pot and $3,900 in cash.
He was continued free on bail but was arrested 10 days later in Buffalo on a charge of fourth-degree marijuana possession when police raided a drug house on Courtland Avenue and found him with 710 bags of pot and $1,245 in cash.
Prosecutors said the drug house had a surveillance system, barricaded doors, an emaciated pit bull locked in a crate, and a mail slot that Sumpter used as a delivery system for customers.
After his fourth arrest, his bail was revoked.
He was convicted in both the 2013 drug cases in Buffalo City Court and was sentenced to time served.
In Erie County Court, Sumpter, a second violent felony offender as well as a second felony drug offender, faced a minimum prison term of seven years and a maximum of 19½ years, according to Assistant District Attorney Michael Felicetta.
email: jstaas@buffnews.com