Erie County Sheriff John Garcia is urging for change as the murder case involving an undocumented immigrant unfolds.
The District Attorney stated that Salazar was discovered lifeless on the bedroom floor, while Prieto was found in the bathroom with self-inflicted knife wounds. Prieto was then transported to ECMC by ambulance and was initially arraigned on the murder charge while receiving treatment. Buffalo City Court Judge Gary W. Wilson, Jr. presided over the arraignment.
Prieto remains in custody at the Erie County Holding Center, where he is being held without bail. Sheriff Garcia has confirmed that an immigration detainer has been placed on Prieto, indicating that ICE plans to take him into custody in the future. As a result, there is a possibility that he may be removed from the United States.
Sheriff Garcia is expressing his concerns about the potential drain on county resources as the case against Prieto continues to unfold. He is advocating for changes to the incarceration system in order to address this issue.
On Wednesday, Sheriff Garcia issued the following statement:
“The immigration crisis continues to impact the taxpayers of Erie County. Antonio Prieto, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who is accused of murdering his wife with an axe and was then found with apparent self-inflicted knife wounds, is currently being housed at the Erie County Holding Center. Prieto is one of six Incarcerated Individuals at either the Erie County Holding Center or Erie County Correctional Facility with an immigration detainer placed on them. That means ICE intends to eventually take custody of these individuals and they may be subject to possible removal from the United States.
The allegations of which Mr. Prieto must defend himself are abhorrent. Now, for the indefinite future, he will be a drain on Erie County resources. While it is difficult to estimate the average daily cost to incarcerate an individual, it is safe to say that Mr. Prieto is on the high end of that cost. To ensure his safety, he is currently under constant observation, requiring 24/7 attention from a deputy. Additionally, we are expecting to soon receive a bill from ECMC for the medical care he received after his arrest.
The federal government must do more to address its immigration problem and keep people like Mr. Prieto out of the United States.”
Sheriff Garcia
Sheriff Flynn emphasized the importance of transferring the individual to the custody of the Sheriff’s department. He highlighted the need to consider convenience and logistical feasibility for the taxpayers of Western New York when deciding who should bear the cost of transportation to the downtown area.
According to Flynn, if he is convicted or pleads guilty to murder, the maximum sentence he could face is 25 years to life. This means that he could potentially spend the rest of his life in New York State.
Prieto has a pre-trial conference scheduled for October 28, marking his return.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing domestic violence, there are several resources that you can turn to for help and support.
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- New York State Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline : 1-800-942-6906
- New York State Chat/Text hotline : Text 844-997-2121
- National Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline : 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
- Erie County Child and Family Services : 716-884-6000
- Family Justice Center : 716-558-7233
