New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced the indictment of 19 people charged with conspiring to transport large amounts of narcotics from New York City to the Capital Region, for distribution purposes.
The AG says months of wiretapping and surveillance by a coalition of law-enforcement agencies resulted in a 226-count indictment being issued against the 19. "During the wiretaps we recorded the alleged dealers using cryptic language to describe their wares, including referring to powder cocaine as 'the Miley Cyrus.' We investigators also recovered a wide array of drugs and guns during the investigation, including more than three pounds of bulk cocaine with a street value of about $150,000."
“Operation Wrecking Ball” marks the sixth major drug bust since Attorney General Schneiderman’s announcement of a targeted crackdown on New York’s growing - and often violent - heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks.
The AG says 37 guns including long guns were seized during drug raids in Capital District along with "Large quantities of drug paraphernalia including scales and packaging material. $63,000 in cash and cutting agents that they were using to bulk up their own supply including a body building supplement known to cause kidney damage. Two of the alleged dealers, Cedric James of Brooklyn and Laquan Wright of Schenectady, are being charged as major traffickers."
If convicted, both could face life in prison.
Acting Albany Police Chief Robert Sears attributes the success of “Operation Wrecking Ball” to partnership among law enforcement entities. "It's through those partnerships that we're able to keep this poison and these very dangerous weapons off our streets."
Sears also spoke on behalf of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan: "She's very committed to keeping this stuff off the streets of Albany and understands the importance of working together in law enforcement to make sure that these things do not hit our streets."
The remaining defendants face maximum sentences between nine and 24 years in prison. They are:
Joseph Berghela, of Albany, New York
Elijahjuan Cancer, of Albany, New York
Derrick Carrington, of Albany, New York
Richard Chrise, of Albany, New York
Dennis Durham, of Albany, New York
Ladawn Harris, of Albany, New York
Clifford Jackson, of Schenectady, New York
Lewis Labshere, of Schenectady, New York
I’Quan Mayo, of Albany, New York
Deanna McCargo, of Albany, New York
Octavius Mills (Ruecker), of Schenectady, New York
Christopher Mozone, of Albany, New York
Nekie Ricks, of Albany, New York
Summer Saglimbeni, of Schenectady, New York
Traevon Shannon, of Albany, New York
Meghan Wilkinson, of Schenectady, New York
Frances Wright, of Schenectady, New York
The investigation was conducted jointly by OCTF Investigator Maria Johnson, under the supervision of Supervising Investigator William Charles, Deputy Chief Eugene Black and Albany Police Department Detectives Michael Fargione and James Wood, under the supervision of Sgt. Brian Plante and Lt. Richard Gorleski. The investigation was assisted by the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorneys General Michael Sharpe and Andrew McElwee. under the supervision of OCTF Deputy Attorney General Peri Alyse Kadanoff, Upstate OCTF Deputy Chief Maria Moran, and Chief Deputy Attorney General Jason Brown.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
