A former Buffalo Public schools teacher will be spending the next seven years in prison as part of a plea deal for his role in drug trafficking.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Michael Masecchia, 57, of Williamsville was involved in the sale of marijuana in Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs from 1999 until his arrest in 2019. Prosecutors said he and others also participated in marijuana grow operations in Ellicottville and Franklinville in Cattaraugus County,
Masecchia taught high school at International Preparatory at Grover and lived across the street from Williamsville South High School.
As part of his plea deal, Masecchia admitted he received sensitive law enforcement information from his co-defendant, Joseph Bongiovanni, who worked as a special agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in Buffalo.
Charges remain pending against Bongiovanni.