Schenectady County Superior Court for Drug Treatment 612 State Street Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: 518-285-8401 - Contact: Jennifer Regan. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. 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. 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. CALIFORNIA DRUG BUST NETS STUNNING HAUL . Credit Solution Experts Incorporated offers quality business credit building services, which includes an easy step-by-step system designed for helping clients build their business credit effortlessly. of drugs worth $61 million, $1-million in cash, and arresting 20 people including a minor all allegedly. 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 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. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. Police encourage members of the community to report suspicious drug-distribution-related activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 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 . Additionally, a seventh person, Trevon Brunson, age 21, of Schenectady, is in state custody and will be arraigned at a later date on charges of distributing heroin. Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. The defendants and their co-conspirators frequently utilized coded and cryptic terminology in an attempt to disguise their illicit activities. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Several Civitello relatives were in court Thursday. 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. We will continue to take every action possible to get guns off our streets, and I thank the Albany Police Department, and all our partners in law enforcement, for their support in protecting our communities., Dangerous drugs and weapons have no place in our communities, said Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins. 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. WAMC Northeast Public Radio | of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport Legal blow for Chicago's Sinaloa Cartel wives Halloween warning:. The OAGs Investigations Bureau is led by Chief InvestigatorOliver Pu-Folkes. A baby on the way. Read More. Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. 100 South Clinton Street TwoNew Yorkmenwere taken into custody aftertheyallegedly leftdrugs inarental carand returnedto pick up theirforgotten stash,theAlbany County Sheriffs Office says. All rights reserved. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Police also found the drugs out in the open, resulting in possession charges against each of the nine people police found inside, Lorusso said. On Thursday, the elder Civitello pleaded not guilty at an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart. 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. The Office of Attorney General does not make any promises, assurances, or guarantees as to the accuracy of the translations provided. "We've seen two years of record setting years of opioid deaths," said Schumer. 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. Two people were injured after a shooting on Dix Avenue early Thursday morning. Contact him at rgavin@timesunion.com. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. "Beyond that, money could be used for public health purposes. 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. 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. Legal Statement. A total of 54 people were indicted 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. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 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. These indictments illustrate a message that criminal activity will be investigated and prosecuted. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. SCHENECTADY - A city police drug raid last week resulted in the arrest of nine people on drug charges, authorities said. Official websites use .gov The drugs were sourced from New York City dealers, according to a news release. Fox News Flash top headlines for January 14. The suspects left the drugs in a rental car they had returned, police say. 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.. unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Civitello Sr. has prior federal convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering, the prosecutor stated. The raid happened just before 7:30 p.m. last Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 705 Orchard St. in Schenectady after a drug investigation, authorities said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. That was in addition to a photo of the defendant with his girlfriend announcing that a baby is on the way. . "We look forward to a hard-fought trial and vindication of Jeffrey Jr.". Select a Language Below/Seleccione el Idioma Abajo. The lawsuit accused them of causing a health crisis by distributing 81 million pills over eight years in one West Virginia county ravaged by opioid addiction. ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10) The New York Attorney General's Office has announced the indictment of 54 members of a drug trafficking ring. 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. 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. Todays takedown was the result of a joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney Generals (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the Johnstown Police Department, the Gloversville Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, the Amsterdam Police Department, the Schenectady Sheriffs Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York State Police. 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. 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. Thesedont appear to have been difficultarrestsfor police to make. The 54 are accused of roles in the drug trafficking ring, distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine and methamphetamine, officials said. He has pleaded not guilty. Through operations, such as Cross Town Quarantine, we remain committed to working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to ensure that our communities remain safe. 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.. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. P.O. Photos show Civitello working on construction sites and posing with family members. Kuntzsch had customers based in Montgomery, Fulton, Saratoga, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. The raid was one of two last week that resulted in multiple arrests, records show. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jos Maldonado, and is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. February 21, 2023. 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. Menu penelope loyalty quotes. The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. The prosecutor described Civitello and his 50-year-old father, Jeffrey Civitello Sr., who owns a construction company located in the same building where the raid took place, as sophisticated drug dealers with numerous criminal associates. ALBANY, NEW YORK Six men were arrested and appeared in court today on charges of distributing drugs in the city of Schenectady, New York. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. An official website of the United States government. The event takes place on April 24, 2021 from 10am to 2pm at . Deputieswere first contacted by a rental car company at Albany International Airport on Wednesday. "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. A total of 54 people were indicted for their roles in distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine, and methamphetamine to Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Albany, Rensselaer,. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! April 28th 2021, 6:28 AM PDT. 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. His son is expected to be arraigned at a later date. 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. The Berkshire District Attorney is warning about the presence of a dangerous sedative in the supply of local street drugs. The investigation codenamed Operation Garage Days includedcovert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps over numerous targeted phones. are related to methamphetamine use. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Published January 14, 2021 9:21am EST. The Office of Attorney General's website is provided in English. That's the last year we have data, there are only 120 were recorded in the region between January and September of 2021. Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. Lock 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The case was investigated by the DEAs Capital District Enforcement Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett. Press Release. Schumer has been seeking federal help to counter a new wave of overdose deaths. NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. "You know, we've seen an uptick in opioid deaths and this loss of life is absolutely tragic," Ostrelich said. The prosecutor said theCoinbase figure was nearly all traced to a transfer of $101,440 from Civitello's father to him. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. 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. 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 methamphetamine and cocaine in Fulton County. 22-DEA-690017: A big drug bust i Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people 28 lbs. Jeffrey Civitello, 50, and his son, Jeffrey Civitello Jr., 22, were charged in an unsealed indictment alleging that they conspired to move drugs with two men, including reputed Bonanno crime family associate Richard Sinde of Fort Lee, N.J., and Robert Ingraoof Lodi, N.J. Born and raised in Albany, hes been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. "This transfer reinforces the governments argument that the defendant is involved in drug trafficking activities with his father," Barnett said. The first conspiracy centers around the Uptown Associates gang and the leader of this drug distribution network: Jamar Brayboy, a/k/a Un. Brayboy employed a vast network of individuals to sell his drugs and had numerous reseller customers that brought heroin and cocaine from New York City to sell in and around the Capital Region, as well as New York and Orange counties, and even had resellers bringing drugs to Vermont. At the time, the Times Union reported that both Civitellos were under federal investigation for their alleged drug trafficking. 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.