A judge has rejected a request for a shorter prison sentence from a former schoolteacher who admitted receiving help from a federal agent, Joseph Bongiovanni, in trafficking marijuana into Buffalo and its suburbs.
Michael Masecchia, who in May 2022 was sentenced to seven years in prison, recently wrote the federal court in Buffalo seeking a retroactive sentence reduction and a court-appointed lawyer to help him make his case for the reduction.
Masecchia based his request on sweeping changes to sentencing guidelines by the U.S. Sentencing Commission that took effect in November.
The changes lowered the guideline sentencing ranges for defendants under certain conditions, including those who did not have previous criminal convictions. Judges must consider – but are not bound by – the guidelines.
The new guidelines allow for shorter sentences, as long as there are no aggravating factors.
Prosecutors say a respected teacher at Grover Cleveland High School ran a marijuana trafficking ring with connections to Buffalo’s organized crime family.
U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. pointed to one such factor in turning down Masecchia’s request.
“Although the defendant has zero criminal history points, he possessed a firearm in connection with the instant…
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