Bradford man Melvin Isaac is being held without bail on federal
charges alleging drug trafficking and possession of a firearm, and
has been terminated from his position with the McKean County Prison
for failing to show up for work.

On Monday, McKean County Human Resources Director Michele
Alfieri explained that Isaac had been hired at the jail as a
corrections officer on Aug. 29, 2005. He is no longer an employee
of the county, she added.

“He failed to appear for work March 17 and 18,” she said, adding
there was no explanation given at the time for his absence. “On
March 20, a letter was sent to him telling him that his failing to
appear was a problem. Because of his failure to appear for work,
that was grounds for discharge.”

She did say she was aware of the charges against Isaac soon
after they were filed. He was not terminated because of the
charges, she explained, but because he failed to appear for work
without giving notice or reason.

According to a criminal affidavit filed by FBI Agent Peter
Langrish, on March 16, Isaac “sold approximately one ounce of
powdered cocaine to an individual in Olean, New York.”

Isaac’s address is 117 Gates Hollow. His age was not given.

The alleged drug deal took place in Isaac’s vehicle in a public
parking lot while the vehicle was under surveillance by law
enforcement. According to the affidavit, Isaac was paid $1,200 and
“the buyer owed him another $200 for the powdered cocaine.”

After the alleged sale was completed, Isaac drove away and was
followed by the officers. His vehicle failed to stop at a red light
and was pulled over on Wayne Street in Olean, the records
indicate.

Isaac was arrested for the drug transaction described by the FBI
and his vehicle was seized and search. During the search, another
one-ounce bag of powdered cocaine was found inside the vehicle,
according to the affidavit.

Isaac was also in possession of a cell phone and allegedly
admitted to FBI Agent Brent Isaacson that he “conducted activities
related to his possession and distribution of cocaine using the
cell phone. He further indicated that the cell phone had various
numbers stored in it and that there was a cell phone number for his
cocaine supplier in New York City and for an associate of another
cocaine supplier who resides in Niagara Falls, New York,” the
affidavit reads.

When law enforcement officials were searching the vehicle, they
located a loaded Glock 9-mm handgun in the center console next to
the driver’s seat, the records read. There were nine rounds in the
magazine, which was inside the gun.

The federal prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant U.S.
Attorney Martin Littlefield, who explained Monday that Isaac is
being held without bail under the federal drug statute.

When a person is charged with selling drugs in violation of the
federal statute, the U.S. attorney’s office can seek to have that
defendant held without bail “to ensure his return to court and to
ensure the safety of other people,” Littlefield said.

On March 22, a bail hearing was held before U.S. Magistrate
Judge Leslie Foschio, who remanded Isaac to the custody of the U.S.
Marshal’s Service pending disposition of the allegations against
him. Littlefield declined to give details on where Isaac is being
held, saying only it was in a federal facility.

“The judge agreed detention was appropriate,” Littlefield
said.