Lockport man charged over 2017 heroin death | Local News

A Lockport city resident has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a man who overdosed on heroin in 2017.

James White, 27, was charged on with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance on Tuesday, according to Niagara County Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Lombardo.

Lombardo said White was picked up on Tuesday by members of the Niagara County Drug Task Force and the Orleans County Major Felonies Crime Task Force. The task forces believe White sold or gave fentanyl-laced heroin to Wade Sargent, who died from an overdose in a Medina residence on March 25, 2017.

White was arraigned in Shelby Town Court and his bail was set at $100,000.

Based on the task forces’ joint investigation, Lombardo said, police believe White obtained the fentanyl-laced heroin from Lockport resident Bruno Haney II, who was indicted by a Niagara County grand jury last week on four drug sale and possession counts.

Haney, 29, of 139 East Ave., was the subject of a 21-month investigation by the county Drug Task Force and he stands accused of selling fentanyl and/or fentanyl derivatives to an undercover operative.

The county has reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Haney’s alleged handling of fentanyl derivatives, distribution of which is a federal crime but not a crime in New York state, according to Lombardo.

Haney was arraigned in county court on Jan. 18 and his bail was set at $50,000.