GOWANDA — A man set to be sentenced next month for making methamphetamine in the city of Olean was arrested in a Gowanda meth bust Dec. 6.
The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 6 on 24 Allen St. that led to the arrest of Benjamin C. Lingenfelter and five other occupants of the home, announced the task force and Gowanda Police Department on Friday.
Lingenfelter, 28, was involved in a small explosion and fire in November 2017 at 115 Orleans Ave. in Olean, which led to the discovery of meth-making materials. The Olean Police Department charged him a few months later in January with third-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, a class D felony.
Lingenfelter pleaded guilty to the charge last month in Cattaraugus County Court and is set to be sentenced Jan. 28.
During Dec. 6’s search, Lingenfelter was allegedly found in possession of approximately five grams of meth packaged in small baggies ready for sale; numerous dextroamphetamine pills that were also packaged for sale; and a “substantial amount of cash,” according to the task force, which noted Lingenfelter has two prior convictions for drug possession or sale.
Lingenfelter was charged last Thursday with two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, class D felonies, and arraigned in Collins Town Court and remanded to Erie County Holding Center with no bail.
Also charged Dec. 6 with two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell after allegedly being found with meth packaged in small baggies and numerous dextroamphetamine pills was Nicole M. Hebdon, 27. She was arraigned in Collins Town Court and remanded to Erie County Holding Center in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Terry L. Bley, 57, and Pamela Bley, 56, were charged with two counts each of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanors, for allegedly possessing small amounts of meth and fentanyl. Both was released on an appearance ticket to appear in Collins Town Court at a later date.
Nathan F. Bley, 22, and Mardi M. John, 25, were both charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing a small amount of meth. Nathan Bley and John were released on appearance tickets to appear in Collins Town Court at a later date.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the task force and Gowanda police with the execution of the search warrant.
