BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced
today that Peter Breitnauer, of Kenmore, NY, was arrested and charged by
criminal complaint with possession of hydrocodone. The charge carries a maximum
penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. According to the complaint,
on October 5, 2018, FBI Special Agents asked the defendant about allegations
that he had been diverting prescription pills from the NYS Medication Drop Box
located at the Kenmore Police Station. Breitnauer admitted that he is addicted
to hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and had been taking
hydrocodones from the box for his personal use. The defendant guided agents to
a closet in his office, where he had stashed more than 100 hydrocodone pills
that he had diverted from the drop box.“It’s a sad day,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Chief
Breitenauer has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a respected member
of Western New York’s law enforcement community. Today’s events certainly do
not erase all the good that the Chief has done during his tenure. Rather, they
highlight the devastating and destructive power of opioids and underscore the
fact that anyone can become ensnared in their allure. There is absolutely no
evidence suggesting that the Chief ever distributed any of the drugs he is
alleged to have diverted.”
The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S.
Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder and was released on conditions.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special
Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
