Jury Convicts Geneseo Man of Dealing Mushrooms and Weed in Village

GENESEO – A jury convicted a Geneseo man of multiple felony drug charges stemming from an undercover drug buy and investigation by the Livingston County Drug Task Force (DTF) Thursday morning.

Matthew Stephany, 43, was convicted of felony Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, and two counts of misdemeanor Criminal Sale of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree.

“Nobody saw me in the house,” said Stephany before the verdict. “They said they had text messages leading up to the buy, which they didn’t actually have. I don’t know. I think it’s 50-50. That’s how it is when you leave it up to a jury, right?”

Assistant District Attorney Josh Tonra, who prosecuted the case, said that the verdict was the culmination of efforts by not only the DA’s Office but by the entire Drug Task Force.

“This is a really successful culmination of many people’s hard work,” said Tonra. “It was a collaboration between the Drug Task Force and my office for the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Stephany. We don’t accept people selling drugs in our neighborhoods. This sale occurred less than half a mile from the Livingston County courthouse.”

Tonra called three police officers to the stand as witnesses along with the forensic chemist with the Monroe County Crime Lab who examined the 3 grams of mushrooms and 5.41 of marijuana that the DTF’s confidential informant obtained from Stephany.

Stephany did not take the stand as a witness. He is represented by Assistant Public Defender John D’Arpino.

A pre-sentence investigation is being conducted and Stephany will return to the Livingston County Courthouse at a later date for sentencing.

The Livingston County Drug Task Force is comprised of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, Avon Police Department, Caledonia Police Department, Mount Morris Police Department, Nunda Police Department, Geneseo Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), NYS Park Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.