ALBANY A Schenectady man pleaded guilty Monday to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing and conspiring to distribute marijuana, federal prosecutors said. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Legal Statement. All rights reserved. You have permission to edit this article. joe and the juice tunacado ingredients; pickleball courts brentwood; tornado damage in princeton, ky; marshall county inmate roster; schenectady drug bust 2021. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Civitello was not in the Jeep at the time, but had been spotted by investigators two days earlier meeting with the three men charged in that case, including Richard Sinde, 56, a reputed Bonanno crime family associate from Fort Lee, N.J, the prosecutor said. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. This violence is a direct result of the illegal drug and firearm trade that has been rampant in communities. Syracuse, NY 13261-7198, Syracuse: 315-448-0672 He has pleaded not guilty. The indictments charge 47 individuals with crimes that include various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, and C felonies); Conspiracy to commit those crimes; various counts of Criminal Sale and Possession of a Firearm; Criminal Possession of a Weapon; and Enterprise Corruption. 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 . "You know, we've seen an uptick in opioid deaths and this loss of life is absolutely tragic," Ostrelich said. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. As part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit cash in the amount of nearly $320,000 and nine items of jewelry collectively worth more than $100,000 that agents seized in October, prosecutors said. Both the Investigations Bureau and OCTF are part of the Division for Criminal Justice. "And we know now that the defendant did not choose that path.". The State of New York, its officers, employees, and/or agents shall not be liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of, or in connection with, the use or performance of such information, including but not limited to, damages or losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy of any such information, or damages incurred from the viewing, distributing, or copying of such materials. The Office of Attorney General does not make any promises, assurances, or guarantees as to the accuracy of the translations provided. 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. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. Both the Investigations Bureau and OCTF are part of the Division for Criminal Justice. His son is expected to be arraigned at a later date. As alleged in the indictments, unsealed in Albany County Court today, this year-long investigation seized nearly 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, 140 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, oxycodone, $40,000 in cash, and nine firearms, including one ghost gun., For the past year, Albany and the surrounding areas have been plagued by violent crime that has terrorized our communities and claimed too many lives, said Attorney General James. of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal blow for Chicago's Sinaloa Cartel wives Halloween warning:. Dave began his radio career as a morning personality at WABY in Albany. I thank Attorney General James and her staff for dedicating time and resources to these cases, said Albany County District Attorney David Soares. According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report from 2021, the production of this stimulant has more than doubled over the last 10 years. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. June 3, 2022 . Charged with prostitution, a misdemean. The Office of Attorney General's website is provided in English. On April 2, when the vehicle was stopped in Greene County, police found the 9 kilos of cocaine in a trap compartment in the trunk, Barnett told the judge at Civitellos detention hearing in October. A job at a family-run construction company. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York, Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy, Seven Indicted on Schenectady Drug Charges, Syracuse Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, New York City Man Indicted for Drug and Gun Offenses, Seven Indicted On Schenectady Drug Charges. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. April 28th 2021, 6:28 AM PDT. "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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. These cases were investigated by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, with assistance from New York State Police-Troop G, the Schenectady Police Department, the Schenectady County Sheriffs Office, the Schenectady County District Attorneys Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Albany County Sheriffs Office, the Albany County District Attorneys Office, the Albany Police Department, the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Special Investigations, the Warren County Sheriffs Office, and the Troy Police Department. On March 31, Sinde, Robert Ingrao, 74, of Lodi, N.J., and a third man, Christopher Kelly, 54, of Brooklyn, met in Schenectady with both Civitello and his father to borrow the Jeep. Schumer has been seeking federal help to counter a new wave of overdose deaths. The 54 are accused of roles in the drug trafficking ring, distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine and methamphetamine, officials said. NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. "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. The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Senior Counsel Michael Sharpe, with the assistance of Confidential Assistant Stephanie Pitts and Legal Support Analyst AnnaLisa MacPhee, under the supervision of OCTF Deputy Bureau Chief Maria Moran. Often a young person dies of opioids, here, and that's their loss. The case was investigated by the DEAs Capital District Enforcement Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett. A second, unrelated, raid last week resulted in the arrest of two others, Police sergeant leads top earners in Saratoga Springs for 2022, Proctors Theatre moving forward with microgrid, Biz Beat: Making a mothers dream come true with restaurant on Broadway in Schenectady, Plans for downtown park along Schenectady's Jay Street moving forward, Weekend snowstorm brings power outages to Capital Region. 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. 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. The raid was one of two last week that resulted in multiple arrests, records show. And the prosecutor said the younger Civitello and his father are being investigated in connection with the DEAs seizure on April 2 of 9 kilograms of cocaine found in a hidden compartment of Civitellos blue 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I am glad to see the results of the coordinated efforts by the New York attorney generals Organized Crime Task Force, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and the Albany Police Department to arrest these individuals who have caused significant trauma, not only to the families who have lost a loved one, but also to the many individuals and families who live in our neighborhoods and have concerns for their own safety. Menu penelope loyalty quotes. He alleged that Civitello and his family are falsely claiming to work at the family business. The year-long investigation led to the seizure of approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 14 grams of heroin, four handguns, and $25,000 in cash. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, We are proud to have worked in partnership with our many law enforcement partners and the Office of the Attorney General to dismantle this organization, and others like it, that do nothing but pollute our communities with addictive and deadly drugs.. 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. As a prior felon, the elder Civitello is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. Thus, the group of problem methamphetamine users is the central target of Czech public health policy related to psychotropic substances and of drug policy as a whole. Seven Indicted on Schenectady Drug Charges Tuesday, April 2, 2019 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York ALBANY, NEW YORK - Six men were arrested and appeared in court today on charges of distributing drugs in the city of Schenectady, New York. Robert Gavin covers state and federal courts, criminal justice issues and legal affairs for the Times Union. unused or unwanted prescription drugs. The case is being prosecuted by OAG OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Andrew McElwee, under the supervision ofOCTF Upstate Deputy Bureau Chief Maria Moran. Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people 28 lbs. Neither Civitello was in the car. ALBANY A penthouse apartment. The Democrat announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy has heeded his call and granted Schenectady County's request to be designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area . . Attorneys Robert A. Sharpe, Michael Barnett, and Emily Powers. The success of 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 beyond their jurisdictional boundaries., This case targeted a trafficking network that was bringing dangerous, illegal narcotics into upstate New York and beyond, with no regard for the damage being done to the local communities, saidState Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen. That means just about every other day. Schenectady County Superior Court for Drug Treatment 612 State Street Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: 518-285-8401 - Contact: Jennifer Regan. Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. During the course of the investigation, investigators intercepted communications in which Sahib Braan, Miguel John, Christian Mitchell, and Jordan Thomas plotted and attempted a home invasion robbery of a rival narcotics trafficker in Gloversville. February 21, 2023. They noted in a motion that Civitello has no criminal history and strong family ties in Schenectady, lessening his risk of flight. Five men are facing up to 25 years each in prison, after a major drug bust operation on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane ahead of schoolies. Today, we are putting an end to their efforts that put New Yorkers in harms way. A cat cafis coming to Rotterdam. Prosecutors said another $319,387 was found in a relative's home and that another $128,860 was found in the younger Civitello's Coinbase cryptocurrency account most of it transferred by his father in March 2021. Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital. That was a close call. He also admitted to possessing about 20 pounds of marijuana and a 10 mm handgun when DEA agents searched his house in October, prosecutors said. The individuals are accused in those indictments of trafficking heroin, cocaine, oxycodone, and guns. SCHENECTADY A city police drug raid last week resulted in the arrest of nine people on drug charges, authorities said. Area police reported the following charges. The second conspiracy centers around the Downtown Associates gang and the leader of this drug distribution network: Tyshawn Morris, a/k/a Mac. Morris also employed a large network of sellers and resellers who primarily operated in Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. Read More. (Albany County Sheriff's Office). The following defendants were charged by indictment in unrelated cases: Conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, crack cocaine. Several Civitello relatives were in court Thursday. Those charged in todays indictment include: Walter Allen, 51 years old, Gloversville, NYDarnell Alston, 49 years old, Gloversville, NYZionna Belknap, 21 years old, Gloversville, NYEverett Russell Bishop, 48 years old, Wilton, NYToni Borromeo, 45 years old, Gloversville, NYSahib Braan, 30 years old, Troy, NYOctavius Brooks, 24 years old, Binghamton, NYLamar Brown, 35 years old, Gloversville, NYChristopher Clark, 39 years old, Amsterdam, NYLawrence Cross, 34 years old, Gloversville, NYDaniel Degnan, 30 years old, Gloversville, NYStephen Dingman, 27 years old, Gloversville, NYFloyd Everson, 47 years old, Port Jefferson, NYMegan Grubb, 32 years old, Gloversville, NYAlex Hanson, 26 years old, Potsdam, NYSean Hines, 38 years old, Gloversville, NYTina Jackson, 49 years old, Gloversville, NYRyan Jacques, 40 years old, St. Regis Falls, NYMiguel John, 26 years old, Saratoga Springs, NYDonald Johnson, 39 years old, Johnstown, NYJohn Kaminski, 43 years old, Fort Johnson, NYChristopher Kippen, 41 years old, Schenectady, NYAdam Krzeski, 37 years old, Gloversville, NYMichael Kuntzsch, 33 years old, St. Johnsville, NYThomas Laverpool, 30 years old, Brooklyn, NYAndre Lewis, 52 years old, Gloversville, NYDylan Mailloux, 30 years old, Little Falls, NYKenneth McKiver, 29 years old, Gloversville, NYErnest McMikle, 35 years old, Gloversville, NYShakona Mikula, 25 years old, Gloversville, NYDonovan Millhouse, 25 years old, Gloversville, NYChristopher Millington, 37 years old, Gansevoort, NYChristian Mitchell, 33 years old, Troy, NYKhalif Mitchell, 35 years old, Hudson, PAAdonta Moore, 24 years old, Gloversville, NYBrianna Nichols, 25 years old, Gloversville, NYBarbara Parker, 47 years old, Gloversville, NYWayne Platt, 37 years old, Gloversville, NYGeorge Ramson, 43 years old, Rotterdam, NYDalton Remines, 28 years old, Galway, NYJacquelynn Ross, 36 years old, Gloversville, NYDashawn Rowland, 27 years old, Gloversville, NYTessa Taylor, 26 years old, Mayfield, NYJordan Thomas, 23 years old, Troy, NYJaviel Tirse, 41 years old, Gloversville, NYSteven VanAllen, 43 years old, Gloversville, NYRoss VanAlstyne, 26 years old, Gloversville, NYClinton Waddell, 39 years old, Middle Grove, NYLaquan Warren, 26 years old, Brooklyn, NYChristopher Williams, 53 years old, Gloversville, NYHassan Wilson, 31 years old, Gloversville, NYJamar Wright, 38 years old, Johnstown, NY. Maybe I should try something other than drug dealing.' Jeffrey Lichtman, a Manhattan attorney representing the younger Civitello, told the Times Union that federal authorities tried unsuccessfully to turn his client against his father. Those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty: Police Blotter. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. St. Lawrence County. The Indictment alleges 39 overt acts that were committed in Schenectady in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy: 21 of the overt acts involve the distribution or possession of crack cocaine with. Police encourage members of the community to report suspicious drug-distribution-related activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Five Saratoga County residents picked up in state drug bust. That was in addition to a photo of the defendant with his girlfriend announcing that a baby is on the way. Attorney General Letitia James said they distributed heroin. 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. The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges. The 54 are accused of roles in the drug trafficking ring, distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine and methamphetamine, officials said. Coleman was not permitted to possess the firearm due to a prior felony drug conviction, prosecutors said. He also agreed to forfeit more than $400,000 in proceeds from the marijuana conspiracy, prosecutors said. Legal Statement. We will not stand for it. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. are related to methamphetamine use. The Office of Attorney General's website is provided in English. Select a Language Below/Seleccione el Idioma Abajo. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Two arrested on drug charges at Queensbury motel, Three arrested on drug possession charges after traffic stop, Glens Falls shooting leaves one in critical condition, Warren County Sheriff's Office seeks help identifying suspect in larceny at liquor store, Police: Glens Falls shooting stemmed from earlier argument, Alaskas Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start. In court papers opposing Civitellos release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett suggested the defendant's family ties did not entirely help his case. Thank you to the attorney general for her leadership and to all involved who work towards bringing those who cause harm to justice., My message to violent criminals continues to be clear: If you possess an illegal gun in Albany, we will do everything in our power including partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities to find you, arrest you, and put you in jail for a very long time, said City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. Official websites use .gov The twomenhad "returned to retrieve the drugs they forgot," police said in a press release. Schenectady County District Attorney Bob Carney : "The amount of money that we were suggesting we should apply for which is $100,000 will allow us to at least bring on a crime analyst working at the Capital District Regional Crime Analysis Center, who will be dedicated to trafficking patterns and crime issues in Schenectady County," Carney said. TwoNew Yorkmenwere taken into custody aftertheyallegedly leftdrugs inarental carand returnedto pick up theirforgotten stash,theAlbany County Sheriffs Office says. Barnett said the younger Civitello's 2020 tax return listed his business as "sales" and placed his total income at $66,273. During the course of the investigation, OCTF was able to establish that numerous members of the Downtown Associates were utilizing Snapchat in order to traffic illegal prescription drugs, namely oxycodone. He admitted he conspired with others to sell marijuana, including from his residence, from at least May to October 2021, prosecutors said. What to know. 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. 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. He also agreed to. And that was more than six months ago," Barnett told the judge. Rp 10s Rp 20s & Green 15s GWM, referring to prescription pills (boots) for sale, GWM (get with me), and what milligram strengths were available, 10mg pills, 20mg pills, etc. Rachael Ray's daytime show ending its run, media reports say, Samantha Humphrey case being treated as homicide, Man who shot, skinned dogs told twice they were not coyotes, Union leaders say New York state workforce could see mass exodus, Tour of Utica-area restaurants feels like trip around the world, Author Marianne Williamson becomes 1st Democrat to formally challenge Biden in 2024. Select a Language Below/Seleccione el Idioma Abajo. SCHENECTADY -- A prostitution ring was busted by city police, with assistance from state troopers, Wednesday, resulting in charges for six women and two men. Following an interview with Hilts, he was found to have been in possession of 140 envelopes containing heroin . The Duncanville Police Department says its narcotics team was investigating the location after receiving a tip. The elder Civitello, the owner of Focus Construction in Schenectady, has a prior conviction for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. Sep. 1MORIAH State Police and other law enforcement agencies say they rounded up a dozen drug dealers in a multi-day raid here. 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.. In addition to the listed partners, Attorney General James would like to thankGloversville Police Detective Brian Knecht, who worked under the supervision of Gloversville Police Chief Anthony Clay and Detective Lieutenant Richard Richardson, as well as Fulton County District Attorney Chad W. Brown for their assistance in this investigation. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 22-DEA-690017: A big drug bust i The indictment seeks a money judgment against both Civitellos of $600,000, the estimated street value of all the drugs. Please subscribe to keep reading. The OAGs Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes. It depends, Albany Sheriff: Pair arrested for illegal gun possession, Crossgates Mall opening at noon due to weather, Snow begins falling in Capital Region during latest, DEC: Anglers hoard panfish in catch and release area, New area code coming to the Hudson Valley, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Christopher Millington, 37, of Gansevoort, Christopher Williams, 53, of Gloversville. Two people were injured after a shooting on Dix Avenue early Thursday morning. 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) . Alameda County Task Force Seizes $4.2M Worth of Fentanyl in Massive Drug Bust Detectives in the East Bay say they recently seized a $4.2 million haul of illicit fentanyl in Oakland and Hayward,. The Berkshire District Attorney is warning about the presence of a dangerous sedative in the supply of local street drugs.