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Le Roy meth dealer given time in federal prison

By Howard B. Owens

A Le Roy resident caught dealing methamphetamine from his home during a multi-agency law enforcement investigation will spend 210 months in a federal penitentiary.

Donald G. Vanelli II, 48, was sentenced to 17-and-a-half years in a Rochester federal court today.

Vanelli had previous entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Documents released by federal authorities at the time of his arrest indicated that Vanelli, president of the Road Agents Motorcycle Club, was head of a meth ring involved in acquiring meth in Monroe County and distributing in Genesee County.

The operation, headed by the FBI with assistance for the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, included wiretaps and a video camera positioned on a pole near his house and well as the use of an informant.

As a result of the investigation, authorities concluded that Vanelli obtained between five and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from drug suppliers.

Arrested the same day -- July 13, 2010 -- as Vanelli were David H. Cohen, 49, of 918 Goodman St., Rochester, Donna L. Boon (aka Donna McAuley), 44, of 3658 Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road; Andrew W. Chapman, 40, of 5 Cedar St., Batavia; and Kerry A. Ball, 51, of 7202 Meadville Road, Basom.

The cases against the other defendants are still pending.

In late April, Boon's husband, James Henry McAuley Jr. (aka "Mitch"), 62, was accused by federal authorities of being a leader in the Rochester Hells Angels and charged with racketeering.

Lincoln DeCoursey

Vanelli had his chance to consider the consequences prior to bringing his ruthless drug to a county which had no known experience with it. Now Genesee County has a whole blotter full of meth labs and affected lives, including those of its youngest, most promising residents.

Bottom line - if you open Pandora's box, you get what you get.

May 18, 2011, 1:44am Permalink

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