Seventh defendant in robberies of migrants takes plea deal

Source: The Daily News


The seventh of eight defendants charged with robbing migrant farm workers this past summer accepted a plea bargain Tuesday in Wyoming County Court.

Melissa Cotton, 19, of Franklinville, waived her right to have her case presented to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery, a Class C violent felony. The plea was made on condition she receive a sentence of eight years in prison and 2 1/2 years of post-release supervision.

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The investigation into the rash of farm worker robberies began when the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office received a complaint this summer from a migrant laborer in Castile, who was choked and had his wallet and other items stolen by five suspects.

The method used by the suspects was for the women to talk to the workers, ask the migrants to go with them to buy beer, then suggest sexual favors. The women would lure the laborers toward the male suspects, who would attack and rob the farm workers.

The defendants called the incidents “going shopping.”


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