The discussion is a celebration of trailblazing women in Western New York’s legal community, historical and current.

It takes place from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Jackson Center. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.

The panel discussion will feature three leading women in New York’s legal field: Hon. Elizabeth Wolford, the first female Chief Judge of the Western District of New York; Maryann Saccomando Freedman, the first female president of the New York State Bar Association; and Trini Ross, the first black female to serve as US Attorney for the Western District of New York.

The discussion, moderated by Jamestown Bar Association President Kristin Lee Yaw, will highlight milestones and challenges overcome in their careers and other women in the legal community.

For more information, visit https://www.roberthjackson.org/events.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael DiGiacomo and Brian J. Counihan, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated between January 2008 and December 2010, the defendant, a practicing attorney at the time, devised a scheme to defraud investors out of approximately $3,400,000.

As part of the scheme, MacCallum encouraged some victims to liquidate other investments in order to benefit from his false and fraudulent higher rates of return. The defendant claimed that his investments were secured by real estate and life insurance policies. However, the Government’s evidence demonstrated that the defendant was using victim investments to pay back earlier investors and to pay personal and other expenses such as personal travel and office expenses. MacCallum received $3,423,737.00 from victim investors.

The verdict is the result of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.

Following today’s verdict, Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, who presided over the trial, order the defendant detained pending sentencing on July 11, 2017.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that David Jesus Pagan and co-defendant Rafael Burgos were the leaders of a drug trafficking organization that distributed illegal narcotics in the Dunkirk area between 2013 and June 10, 2015. During that time, members distributed multiple kilograms of cocaine throughout the Dunkirk area.

Pagan was arrested in June of 2015 along with Burgos, Javier Pagan, Jr., Angel Pierluissi, Samuel Hernandez III, and Alvin Torres. Search warrants were executed at the time of the arrests at six properties which resulted in the recovery of more than seven kilograms of cocaine (the largest seizure ever in the City of Dunkirk) and approximately $175,000 in cash as well as an AR-15 assault rifle with a 30 round magazine, most of which was found in the defendant’s residence. During a search of Burgos’ residence, officers discovered a secret room with a money counting machine. All defendants have been convicted.

Friday’s plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Office, the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief David C. Ortolano, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph A. Gerace, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy S. Whitcomb, and the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Patrick Swanson.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 14, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.