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Penfield man pleads guilty to drug trafficking charges

Submitted by WHEC_Web_Staff
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 7:57pm

A Penfield man pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in federal court Tuesday.

Fred Valentin, also known as Fred Vargas, 42, of Penfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

Valentin purchased large quantities of heroin in New York City that he brought back to Rochester where processed, packaged and resold the heroin in various quantities. He was arrested on January 16 while driving a rental car. Police found him in possession of more than 130 grams of heroin and $2,000 in cash.

Officers also found a pistol with a defaced serial number, rounds of ammunition and heroin trafficking paraphernalia. On February 13, ATF agents seized more than $72,000 in Valentin's drug proceeds during the execution of a federal search warrant at a home on Central Park in Rochester.

Valentin will be sentenced on September 5. He faces 20 years to life in prison.

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Webster man charged with aggravated unlicensed operation

Submitted by News 10NBC
Monday, May 20th, 2013, 8:01am

A 39-year-old Webster man has been ticketed in Yates County.

Sheriff’s deputies say they stopped Matthew Wambach for speeding on State Route 54 in the Town of Jerusalem. He was subsequently charged with aggravated unlicensed operation for driving with a suspended license.

He is due in court at a later date to answer to the charges.
 

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Testimony begins in trial for two people accused in death of Fairport teacher

Submitted by WHEC_Web_Staff
Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 7:58pm

She was a mother of two and a popular teacher in the Fairport Central School District. The trial for the two people charged in her death got underway Thursday.

Investigators call it a deadly game of cat and mouse. They say Mark Scerbo and Meagan Merkel were chasing each other down the road after a night of drinking last July. That's when officials say both their vehicles hit and killed Heather Boyum, who was riding her bike.

This is an unusual trial because prosecutors are trying Merkel and Scerbo simultaneously in the same courtroom with one judge and two different juries. Officials say it's to save you, the taxpayer, some money.

Opening statements in the case against Mark Scerbo wrapped up Thursday afternoon. Opening statements for Meagan Merkel were held Thursday morning.

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Webster woman sentenced for robbing pizza shops and florist

Submitted by WHEC_Web_Staff
Monday, May 13th, 2013, 4:34pm

A Webster woman who robbed pizza shops in Monroe County was sentenced Monday.

55-year-old Barbara Cotie, of Webster, will spend three and a half years in jail, plus five years post release supervision. She pleaded guilty in February to robbing the Mark's Pizzeria in Webster, Kittleberger Florist and the Pizza Hut on Empire Boulevard in November. She was armed with a long gun.

Cotie is also facing charges in Wayne County where she is accused of robbing the Mark Pizzeria in Walworth on November 30.

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Three teens charged with petit larceny

Submitted by News 10NBC
Friday, May 10th, 2013, 7:26am

Three teens have been charged with stealing items from Lord & Taylor at Eastview Mall.

Nathan Matwijkow, 17 of Rochester, James Revekant, 18 of Pittsford and 17-year-old Wyatt Sullivan of Penfield are charged with petit larceny.

Sheriff’s deputies say the teens took $372 worth of clothing, fragrance and accessories and left the story without paying for the merchandise.

All three were issued appearance tickets and are due in court at a later date.

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Man charged in connection with death of Fairport teacher expected in court

Submitted by WHEC_Web_Staff
Monday, May 6th, 2013, 8:08am

The man charged in connection with the death of a Fairport teacher is due in court Monday for the beginning of his trial.

Mark Scerbo is charged with vehicular manslaughter and aggravated DWI.

News10NBC previously reported that Scerbo would be tried along with Megan Merkel. Merkel is accused of vehicular manslaughter in the same crash.

Investigators say Scerbo was driving a motorcycle on July 29 when he hit Heather Boyum who was riding her bike on Route 250 in Penfield. Boyum was then hit by a car police say was driven by Merkel.

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Deputies investigating robbery at 7-Eleven on Penfield Road

Submitted by WHEC_Web_Staff
Monday, April 29th, 2013, 11:54am

Sheriff’s deputies are looking for two men who they say robbed a convenience store early Monday morning.

Investigators say they responded to the 7-Eleven on Penfield Road around 3:45 a.m. One suspect is described as wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt with white lettering on the front, with dark pants, dark gloves and black shoes. Deputies say the other suspect is described as wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt, dark cargo pants and a black ski mask.

News10NBC is told one of the men did have a gun.

No arrests have been made at this time.

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