Christopher Marcinkowski, 39, of Dunkirk, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with maintaining a drug-involved premises and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced on April 2. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
The case centers on an incident that occurred during the execution of a search warrant at Marcinkowski’s Franklin Avenue residence on March 24. According to the complaint handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Garrett Fitzsimmons, as law enforcement began executing the warrant, Marcinkowski fired two rounds from a firearm—one of which struck an officer—leading to several hours of standoff before he surrendered without further incident.
Investigators had previously conducted two garbage pulls at the residence in February and March as part of an investigation into alleged drug trafficking activities. They found plastic baggies with residue testing positive for cocaine. Following Marcinkowski’s surrender after the standoff, officers seized approximately 197 grams of suspected psychedelic mushrooms, about 11 pounds of suspected marijuana, three firearms, around $30,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia from the property.
Marcinkowski has three prior federal convictions: one for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in October 2013; another for distributing cocaine in November 2021.
He is scheduled to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy on April 8 at 2:00 p.m.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam; Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff James Quattrone; Jamestown Police Department under Acting Chief Scott Forster; and Dunkirk Police Department under Chief Christopher Witkowski.
Authorities emphasize that these charges are accusations only and that Marcinkowski is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
