1 min read BOSTON (AP) Drug charges have been filed against 21 people accused of running a cocaine and fentanyl ring that spanned Massachusetts, New Hampshire,. NEW YORK New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of 54 members of a drug trafficking ring for their roles in distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine, and methamphetamine to Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Warren counties sourced from New York City dealers. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jos Maldonado, and is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Booysen and his five co-accused face 96 drug-dealing charges, and the indictment against them showed they were accused of crimes relating to the Mandrax trade, covering February 2013 to November 2017. Deputieswere first contacted by a rental car company at Albany International Airport on Wednesday. Legal Statement. Official websites use .gov I thank our law enforcement partners for their support in seeing this through." As a result of the takedown, 78 people were charged with 355 crimes, and $2 million in drugs, including cocaine and . . The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges. By, In Albany, Sen. Schumer launches new effort to counter opioid epidemic, Berkshire DA: sedative that can increase overdose risk has been found in local opioids, A federal judge sides with 3 major drug distributors in a landmark opioid lawsuit. ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10) The New York Attorney General's Office has announced the indictment of 54 members of a drug trafficking ring. Charged with prostitution, a misdemean. Five Saratoga County residents were arrested in a major drug trafficking bust announced on Wednesday by Attorney General Letitia James. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, SCHENECTADY - A city police drug raid last week resulted in the arrest of nine people on drug charges, authorities said. This collaboration among the various law enforcement agencies sends a clear message that law enforcement will rise to the challenge and protect our communities. He has pleaded not guilty. Attorney General Letitia James said they distributed heroin. 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"Of the several dozen character reference letters submitted by the defendant, not a single one is from a co-worker, and no letter appears to reference his supposed construction job," the prosecutor stated. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. I'm a smart guy. Federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a kilogram of cocaine, half a kilogram of methamphetamine, 14 firearms, and nearly $1.6 million dollars in cash during a drug bust at a two-bedroom home in southeast Dallas last week, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah. The OAGs Investigations Bureau is led by Chief InvestigatorOliver Pu-Folkes. "We look forward to a hard-fought trial and vindication of Jeffrey Jr.". The individuals are accused in those indictments of trafficking heroin, cocaine, oxycodone, and guns. During the course of the investigation, in addition to communication by cell phones, the defendants repeatedly relied on social media, specifically Facebook and Snapchat, to sell and procure drugs and brazenly brag and display illegal firearms. 18 Swept Up in Rockland Undercover Drug Operation - New City, NY - Scores of undercover drug buys, including oxycodone, cocaine and heroin, in Clarkstown, Orangetown, Haverstraw, Ramapo and Stony . Civitello is now on his third and fourth attorneys, Syracuse-based attorneys Robert G. Wells and Derek S. Andrews. The suspects left the drugs in a rental car they had returned, police say. 22-DEA-690017: A big drug bust i 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Police also found the drugs out in the open, resulting in possession charges against each of the nine people police found inside, Lorusso said. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. Schumer says in a statement the new funding will strengthen treatment access in Schenectady County by facilitating critical partnerships between public health agencies and law enforcement, and grants can be used to purchase critical equipment like Naloxone kits for first responders to mitigate the number of overdoses and prevent deaths. Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The OAGs Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes. He was released under probation following his arraignment in a local town court. Understanding Recent Changes to New Yorks Gun Laws, 47 Individuals Arrested for Pumping Heroin, Cocaine, Oxycodone Into Communities, Illegal Possession of Firearms, Defendants Responsible for Recent Shootings, Violent Crime in Albany, NEW YORK New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of 47 individuals for their roles in two major drug and firearm distribution networks that trafficked heroin, cocaine, oxycodone, and firearms in the Capital Region. I thank Attorney General James and her staff for dedicating time and resources to these cases, said Albany County District Attorney David Soares. The investigation dubbed Operation Crosstown Quarantine centered on two rival crosstown gangs in Albany and included the use of physical surveillance, electronic surveillance, and undercover operations. Schenectady businessman, son indicted on Mafia-linked cocaine charges, DEC finds 14-foot python in New York suburb, National Grid moving to restore power after heavy snows, Former brewmaster at Druthers brewpubs wants look at books, Kingston barber who flouted Cuomo wins back license. The investigation was directed by Albany Police Department Detective Bill Norris, under the supervision of Detective Sergeant James Wood; and OCTF Detective Maria Romeo, with the assistance of the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, under the supervision of Detective Supervisor John Monte and Deputy Chief John McManus. Those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty: Police Blotter. schenectady drug bust 2021. The 376-count indictmentcharges the defendants with various counts of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy in the second degree, which are all felonies. As a prior felon, the elder Civitello is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. The investigation started in April 2021, and focused on two people Auburn police said are gang leaders: Nicholas Neville . ALBANY The owner of a Schenectady construction business and his son were charged in U.S. District Court on Thursday with conspiring to traffic an estimated $600,000 of cocaine in a Mafia-connected drug pipeline between the New York City area and the Electric City. "So I think that that's one of the reasons why people, you know, chose this as an area that they would use for that. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He is set to appear in courtat a later date. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. And even from once you get into the Capital Region, it's easy to get to other smaller towns and places like that.". Maybe I should try something other than drug dealing.' And that was more than six months ago," Barnett told the judge. Select a Language Below/Seleccione el Idioma Abajo. "We've seen two years of record setting years of opioid deaths," said Schumer. 15 arrested, accused in Capital District prostitution sting (CNYCentral File Photo) . Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. Fox News Flash top headlines for January 14. That was in addition to a photo of the defendant with his girlfriend announcing that a baby is on the way. CALIFORNIA DRUG BUST NETS STUNNING HAUL . The Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) announced Tuesday that seven women and 21 men are facing various drug and weapon charges following a multi-month series of. These arrests were only made possible through the combined efforts of our members and our state and local law enforcement partners, and we appreciate this ongoing collaboration., This drug trafficking organization distributed everything from crack cocaine, to methamphetamine, to heroin, saidDEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. Democratic Michelle Ostrelich, who is also running for state Senate in the new 44th district, chairs Schenectady County Legislatures Health, Housing and Human Services Committee. ALBANY A penthouse apartment. As New Yorkers and Americans across the country witnessed the greatest number of drug overdose deaths in history in 2020, the defendants here were allegedly flooding our streets with the very types of drugs that caused this devastation.. Legal Statement. Muhammad Coleman, 42, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Albany. I thank our partners in law enforcement for their critical support in this takedown.. Dangerous drugs have devastated too many communities throughout our state and claimed too many lives, saidJames. I commend and thank Attorney GeneralLetitiaJames and her offices Organized Crime Task Force agents, the FBIs Safe Streets Task Force members, and Albany Police Department officers for their work in bringing those who flood our local communities with illegal weapons and firearms to justice., Our community, like many others, has struggled with an uptick in violence and too many innocent lives have been taken by gun violence in the Capital City, said State Assemblymember John T. McDonald III. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. Born and raised in Albany, hes been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Contact him at rgavin@timesunion.com. Anytime we remove large amounts of illegal drugs and firearms from our streets we save future lives and improve the publics safety, said, James and her offices Organized Crime Task Force agents, the FBIs Safe Streets Task Force members, and Albany Police Department officers for their work in bringing those who flood our local communities with illegal weapons and firearms to justice.. schenectady drug bust 2021william paterson university application fee waiver. The ring then . The investigation codenamed Operation Garage Days includedcovert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps over numerous targeted phones. Schumer addressed the issue during a rally with local advocates in June at the Addictions Care Center of Albany, promising to use his clout to get funding flowing to the Capital Region. Kuntzsch had customers based in Montgomery, Fulton, Saratoga, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. These individuals have allegedly flooded our streets with dangerous narcotics and are responsible for many of the shootings that have been at the center of this devastation. The Warren County Sheriffs Office is looking to identify the person police believe is involved in a theft that occurred at Jims Wine & Liquor. Toronto Police made the biggest drug seizure in its history after seizing 1,000 kg. With opioid deaths on the rise across Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is launching a plan to beef up addiction services and fight the flow of drugs into the area. During the October raid, a gun was found in a safe in a first-floor office of the company, which is in the same building where Civitello Jr. lives. SCHENECTADY -- A prostitution ring was busted by city police, with assistance from state troopers, Wednesday, resulting in charges for six women and two men. Today, we are putting an end to their efforts that put New Yorkers in harms way. Market data provided by Factset. They sent the judge 25 letters from Civitello's mother, sister, other family members, a former teacher, assistant principal and ex-tenants all attesting to Civitello's good character. We will not stand for it. This investigation is the direct result of the hard work done by members of the various agencies involved and shows just how effective law enforcement can be when working together. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Members regularly posted videos and pictures of themselves possessing handguns, rifles, and machine guns, usually with high-capacity magazines protruding from the gun. or redistributed. Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people 28 lbs. Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. Id like to commend Attorney General James for her leadership, as well as her unwavering support to our agency and overall safety of the Albany community.. Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. As alleged in the indictment, the central figures in this narcotics distribution network were Brianna Nichols and Michael Kuntzsch, who often worked together to obtain and sell meth and cocaine in Fulton County. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Menu penelope loyalty quotes. We have shown through this collaborative effort that law enforcement will rise to the challenge and protect our communities. Brayboy also relied on Facebook to illegally sell his narcotics. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. In one photo, a tattoo is visible on Civitello's arm which states: "La Famiglia e tutto." The case was investigated by the DEAs Capital District Enforcement Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The Office of Attorney General does not make any promises, assurances, or guarantees as to the accuracy of the translations provided. The 54 are accused of roles in the drug trafficking ring, distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine and methamphetamine, officials said. Drug Bust April 24, 2022 4:42 am . The drug bust was the largest in Cayuga County in a decade, police said. The Office of Attorney General's website is provided in English. Authorities in Germany and Belgium seized more than 23,000 kilograms (50,700 pounds) of cocaine, worth billions of dollars, in an international operation that resulted in one arrest, officials said. "You know, we've seen an uptick in opioid deaths and this loss of life is absolutely tragic," Ostrelich said. Drug Bust on Highway Leads to 8 Years In State Prison (1-30-18 P v Shamel Greene) Michael Carr Sentenced for Colonie Car Crash (1-30-2018 P v Michael Carr) Guilty Plea for Illegal Weapon Charge (1-26-18 P v RONDUE GENTRY) . "We will have more resources, equipment, technology, intelligence, all of the things that those folks need to make sure that there are preventing loss of life and getting those drug sales out of our streets out of our neighborhoods. NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. The investigation, codenamed Operation Garage Days, includedcovert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps. At the hearing, Barnett said Civitello had been using the Jeep every day and was well aware that it had been seized. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland . Barnett said the younger Civitello's 2020 tax return listed his business as "sales" and placed his total income at $66,273. The Berkshire District Attorney is warning about the presence of a dangerous sedative in the supply of local street drugs. Barnett said investigators also found two boxes for Glock handguns, including one purchased in Kentucky by a known gun trafficker. Contact him at rgavin@timesunion.com. For example, the resources in this investigation were leveraged to prevent multiple home invasions that suspects from other communities intended to commit in Gloversville. And that means 300 deaths in the last two years. On Oct. 21, when officers with a federal Drug Enforcement Administration task force raided what they called a penthouse, they found a gun in the first-floor office of Focus Construction, a company owned by the senior Civitello, who as a convicted felon is prohibited from possessing firearms. All rights reserved. The Times Union previously reported that on Oct. 21, federal drug investigators raided the younger Civitello's penthouse apartment on Albany Street and seized 75 pounds of marijuana, loaded weapons and more than $407,000. The defendants and their co-conspirators frequently utilized coded and cryptic terminology in an attempt to disguise their illicit activities. DARRELL ANDERSON, 29 years old, Schenectady, NYBENJAMIN BADGLEY, 29 years old, Clinton, NYANDERSON BENOIT, A/K/A MALI, 39 years old, Rutland, VTRONALD BERG, 39 years old, Schenectady, NYJAMAR BRAYBOY, A/K/A UN, 43 years old, Albany, NYJOHN CHAPMAN, 51 years old, Albany, NY JESSIE CORNER, 47 years old, Albany, NYNIEZIER ELLIS, A/K/A NEECHO, 26 years old, Albany, NY RONALD EVANS, A/K/A GOTTI, 44 years old, Albany, NY MANIEF FIELDS, 27 years old, Albany, NY DEREK GEORGE, 29 years old, Albany, NY ANTHONY GOLSON, A/K/A EYE, 41 years old, Albany, NYFREDERICK HEIDELMARK, 48 years old, Albany, NY THOMAS HEMMINGWAY, 41 years old, Albany, NY DANIEL INGERSOLL, 38 years old, Albany, NY MAZENE LACY, 41 years old, Albany, NY CHRISTINA LEWIS, 52 years old, Rensselaer, NYDONTRAY LUNDAY, 41 years old, Schenectady, NYERICA MASON, 38 years old, Warren, NYJORGE MENDEZ, A/K/A KUSHIE SUNOCO, 27 years old, Albany, NY JOSE MILLER, 52 years old, Albany, NY TYSHWAN MORRIS, A/K/A MAC, 29 years old, Schenectady, NYLUIS NAVARRO, A/K/A LV, 34 years old, Schenectady, NYJOEMAR NUNEZ, 24 years old, Albany, NY JOSUE NUNEZ, A/K/A SWAY, 40 years old, Albany, NY RONALD PERSER, 69 years old, Albany, NY RIZEL SIMS, 31 years old, Montgomery, NYEMMANUEL SMITH, 50 years old, Warren, NYANGEL SOTO, 33 years old, Albany, NY THERESA STANLEY, 38 years old, Albany, NY MARCUS VILLANO, 50 years old, Schenectady, NYKACY WEAVER, 47 years old, Albany, NY FREDERICK WILLIAMS, 32 years old, Albany, NY.