News from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
Department of Law Department of Law
120 Broadway The State Capitol
New York, NY 10271 Albany, NY 12224
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cuomo Announces Multi-City Takedown as Part of Upstate Guns, Gangs and
Drugs Initiative
More than 400 law enforcement officers making 87 arrests this morning
in five New York State counties; $260,000 in drugs, guns and cash seized
to date
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 6, 2007) - New York State Attorney General
Andrew M. Cuomo today announced an unprecedented takedown as part of his
Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative. The effort netted 87 arrests through a
multi-state, multi-law enforcement agency action that commenced this
morning, and set forth an aggressive model to help turn the tide in
Upstate against guns, gangs and drugs.
“Today’s arrests deliver a significant blow to the elaborate
organizations that funnel heroin, cocaine and other drugs into our
communities,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Ridding upstate
communities of such criminal activity is a priority of my office and
involves targeting everything from street level dealing to top-level
criminal enterprises. Working cooperatively with multiple Upstate law
enforcement agencies to form coordinated investigations is key to
fighting the crime epidemic across the state and is core to my
office’s ongoing initiatives against drugs and illegal guns.”
More than 400 law enforcement officers were involved in today’s 87
arrests, which were part of “Operation: Thunder and Lightening,” a
series of investigations being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s
Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF). Investigators, coordinating with
multiple partners across the state, aggressively utilized sophisticated
covert surveillance - including 95 wiretaps - as part of a cooperative
approach with local law enforcement. Investigators seized over $260,000
in drugs, guns and cash to date -- approximately $120,000 in cocaine,
$35,000 in heroin, $5,000 in marijuana and ecstasy and over $100,000 in
cash were seized during the sweep.
This massive crackdown, the largest ever to be prosecuted by the
Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force, focused on drug
distribution networks orchestrating the flow of heroin and cocaine into
upstate New York - primarily in Rochester, Syracuse and Elmira. Over 5
kilos of cocaine, over 11 ounces of heroin (more than 2,000 glassine
envelopes) and other narcotics have been seized as a part of the
investigation. The defendants are charged with a variety of crimes from
Conspiracy to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, which is
punishable by up to 24-years in prison.
In Syracuse:
In Onondaga County, 20 individuals operating in the Syracuse region
were indicted for their roles in a heroin distribution network. The
investigation resulted in the seizure of over 2,000 bags of heroin
destined for the streets of Syracuse. Authorities also seized a defaced
assault rifle from two defendants that they attempted to trade for
heroin. The investigation also led to the interception of a handgun, a
quantity of the drug ecstasy and a quantity of heroin from a residence.
Fifteen additional individuals were indicted for alleged heroin and
cocaine trafficking between Onondaga and Monroe Counties. Authorities
seized more than ¼ pound of heroin, an assault rifle, a handgun and more
than $50,000 in cash.
“Operation: Thunder & Lightning” also struck a separate drug
organization in Syracuse, with charges against three individuals for
conspiring to possess and distribute heroin and the seizure of 73 bags
of heroin. A large alleged cocaine trafficking ring in Onondaga County
was also uncovered, resulting in the arrests of 26 individuals,
including two from Cortland County and the seizure of more than two
kilograms of cocaine, a small amount of heroin, three handguns, two
rifles and more than $30,000 in cash.
In Rochester:
OCTF’s investigation determined the Rochester and Syracuse drug rings
were linked. Defendants who were supplying heroin to Syracuse dealers
were also part of a larger cocaine distribution network within Rochester
- leading to the arrest of 11 more individuals on cocaine and marijuana
charges. More than three kilograms of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana
and more than $20,000 in cash were seized.
In Elmira:
In Elmira, an undercover tax investigator investigating the sale of
tax-free alcohol at the Soft Tail Saloon on E. Washington Ave. was
propositioned with an alcohol-for-cocaine exchange. This sparked an OCTF
wiretap investigation resulting in a Chemung County Grand Jury returning
an indictment charging 17 additional individuals for their participation
in a cocaine trafficking network. Two other individuals were charged
with misdemeanors for their role in the ring. Nearly six ounces of
cocaine were seized during this branch of the investigation.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed
innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Chris Prather, Deputy Attorney General-In-Charge of the Organized Crime
Task Force, said, “Today’s arrests underscore the Organized Crime
Task Force’s commitment to Attorney General Cuomo’s efforts to crack
down on the plague of guns and drugs across Upstate. It also proves that
coordinated efforts by various law enforcement entities can prove a
formidable force.”
Special Deputy Attorney General for Guns and Gangs Carl J. Boykin said,
“As a lifelong resident of Central New York, I understand the
challenges that we face in the ongoing battle with drug and gun runners
and gangs. By coordinating services and resources between various law
enforcement groups, we create a force to fight the scourge of guns and
gangs that plague our communities and threaten our children.”
Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick said, “Today
marks the culmination of a year-long investigation by members of local,
state and federal law enforcement agencies, working together to take
drugs and guns off the streets of upstate and central New York
communities. We are proud of our long-standing relationship and
partnership with the Attorney General’s Office, including the OCTF.
These indictments and arrests demonstrate for the citizens of our state
that prosecutors, police officers and investigators in multiple
agencies, at every level of government can, and do, work diligently,
collaboratively and effectively in an effort to keep them safe. I also
think it sends a strong message to drug dealers and gangs trafficking in
drugs and guns that doing business in New York State will have dire
consequences.”
Chemung County District Attorney John R. Trice said, “Today's
operation in Elmira in which some 17 known drug dealers were arrested in
connection with an investigation commenced months ago by the Attorney
General's Organized Crime Task Force, illustrates the success and
effectiveness of multi-jurisdictional investigations. Without the
extraordinary cooperation of the Task Force, the New York State Police
Special Investigations Unit, the New York State Police Community
Narcotics Enforcement Team and local law enforcement such as the Drug
Enforcement Unit of the Elmira Police Department, a sweep of this
magnitude would not be possible. The City of Elmira has today reaped
the benefit of this collaborative effort. Elmira is indebted to all the
various law enforcement agencies participating in this
investigation.”
Monroe County District Attorney Michael Green said, “This case is
another in a long line of cases demonstrating not only the connection
between drugs, guns and violence but also how increasingly these
networks extend between our communities. In Monroe County we have a
long history of collaboration between federal, state and local police
and prosecutors to attack the issue of drugs, guns, gangs and violence,
and we are pleased to have Attorney General Cuomo’s Organized Crime
Task Force as a partner in our efforts. In this case the Task Force, in
connection with local law enforcement, has scored a major victory in our
fight against this drug network. On behalf of the citizens of Monroe
County I want to thank Attorney General Cuomo and all who worked on this
case for their efforts.
Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and
Finance Barbara G. Billet said, “Our undercover tax enforcement
officers, while pursuing cases involving excise tax evasion, often find
themselves in the more dangerous, high-stakes netherworld of drug and
firearms trafficking. Their dedication illustrates that the Tax
Department will use every means available to capture and prosecute tax
criminals. I wish to extend my thanks to the Attorney General and to his
Organized Crime Task Force for their professionalism and their
dedication to bringing these criminals to justice.”
Elmira Mayor John Tonello said, "We have known for a long time that
Upstate cities like Elmira are not immune to the spread of guns and
drugs, but thanks to the Attorney General Cuomo’s dedication and local
efforts like the recent “Operation Crack Hammer,” we’re sending a
strong message that we are not going to stand by and just take it."
“Today's arrests underscore Attorney General Cuomo's commitment to
fighting the scourge of guns and drugs in Rochester and all across
Upstate. The cooperation between the dedicated members of his Organized
Crime Task Force, our Rochester Police Department and local law
enforcement officials from across the state, and the results we are
seeing, proves criminals in our hometowns will be facing a formidable
force,” said Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy.
Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll commended the Attorney General and his
office for coordinating this massive statewide initiative saying, “I
cannot stress enough that this is the result of coordinated criminal
investigating and networking initiatives that halted the flow of drugs
and proliferation of gang activity. Our Syracuse Police Department's
efforts combined with Attorney General Cuomo's team provided a powerful
force that these lawless individuals could not overcome. Going forward,
the continued relationship with agencies on a city, county and statewide
basis is essential in preventing more organized crime cells in
developing strength and size.”
The investigations leading to the charges announced today were carried
out by OCTF with investigators from the New York State Police; the
Department of Taxation and Finance; the Onondaga County District
Attorney’s Office; the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration; the
Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Marshal’s Service;
Syracuse, Rochester and Elmira’s Police Departments; the Sheriff’s
Departments from Onondaga, Monroe and Wayne counties; the Cortland
County Drug Task Force and the Greater Rochester-Area Narcotics
Enforcement Team (“GRANET”). The cases were developed and are being
prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Attorneys General James Mindell, Gordon
Cuffy and Irene Bardot of the Attorney General’s OCTF under the
supervision of J. Christopher Prather, head of OCTF. Sgt. John Henderson
and Officer Phil Sindoni of GRANET; Investigator William Soldato of
Taxation and Finance; Supervising Investigator Ronald Vincent of OCTF;
Investigators William Elsenbeck, J. Timothy MacConaghy; Paul Pendergast,
all of OCTF; Inv. Doug Davis and Senior Investigator Joe Brainerd of the
New York State Police; Sgt. Robert Milby of the Wayne County Sheriff’s
Department, and Sgt. Todd Caufield of the Cortland County Sheriff’s
Department assisted in the investigation.