A Bradford man, believed to be employed as a guard at the McKean
County Prison, was arrested March 17 by the FBI in New York State
on charges including trafficking cocaine.

Melvin Isaac of 117 Gates Hollow in Bradford Township is facing
federal charges including possession with the intent to distribute
cocaine and “possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime,” according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul
Campana from the Buffalo, N.Y., office of the U.S. Attorney.

The Era was unable to verify Friday night if Isaac is still
employed at the county jail.

Campana did not specify exactly where the alleged incident
occurred, but said his office covers the western district of New
York.

“The charges were filed in federal court in Buffalo,” Campana
explained. “The (criminal) affidavit was signed by an FBI
agent.”

The incident from which the charges resulted occurred March 16.
Isaac was allegedly in possession of a 9 mm handgun and of a
quantity of cocaine when apprehended by the FBI. Campana did not
give specific details of the alleged incident.

Calls to the Buffalo field office of the FBI were not
immediately returned.

Campana explained the charges filed against Isaac allege a
violation of federal laws rather than state laws.

“Almost any drug offense of possession with intent to distribute
is chargeable in federal court,” Campana said. “This one was.

“The gun charge … is specifically a federal offense too,” he
added.

If convicted, Isaac faces a substantial federal prison
sentence.

“The maximum penalty for the drug charge is 20 years,” Campana
said. “The gun charge would be … the penalty is a consecutive five
years minimum.

“It’s a mandatory minimum of five years (in addition) to
whatever sentence he would get if convicted of the drug charge,”
Campana explained.

The case will be heard before Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio
in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.
Campana said the next date for action in the case is April 25, when
a status report to the court is due on the matter.

There was no information immediately available as to what
Isaac’s bail was, or whether he was represented by an attorney.