NEW YORK – New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James immediately introduced the takedown of a significant narcotics trafficking ring that flooded communities within the Finger Lakes with fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and different harmful medication. The takedown resulted in 177 fees in opposition to 48 defendants associated to their participation on this trafficking community that operated in Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, and Yates counties. This operation resulted within the seizure of greater than 10 kilograms of fentanyl and greater than 10 kilograms of cocaine, with a complete worth of greater than $9 million. Investigators additionally seized 19 firearms, together with assault weapons and ghost weapons, and greater than $440,000 in money.
“Our communities are being ravaged by fentanyl, opioids, and different harmful medication, and this organized crime group was fueling the fireplace,” mentioned Lawyer Normal James. “The handfuls of people arrested and charged on account of this investigation had been flooding native communities with medication, and had been armed with lethal weapons to assist their unlawful actions. This main takedown was solely potential due to my workplace’s robust reference to native legislation enforcement, and I thank my colleagues for his or her partnership. I’ll at all times use the nice powers of my workplace to assist assist native communities as all of us work to construct a safer New York.”
The 2-year investigation was led by the Workplace of the Lawyer Normal’s (OAG) Organized Crime Process Power (OCTF) and introduced collectively the sources of greater than a dozen state, native, and federal legislation enforcement companies, together with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Workplace, Ontario County Sheriff’s Workplace, Seneca County Sheriff’s Workplace, and the Wayne County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
The investigation included a whole lot of hours of covert surveillance and wiretaps and originated in Wayne County.
Part One: Wayne County
As alleged within the indictment, the investigation started in Wayne County and recognized three interconnected teams that had been liable for promoting medication in Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, and Yates counties. The primary part centered on traffickers based mostly in Wayne County and was centered round Michael Danzey and his brother, Terrance Raggs. Danzey and Raggs had been the first sources of cocaine for this operation and distributed to a community of shoppers all through Wayne County.
Through the investigation, investigators additionally uncovered that in June 2021, Danzey tried to homicide a person that he believed was stealing from him. The person sustained a number of critical accidents on account of the taking pictures, however in the end survived. Within the aftermath of the taking pictures, Danzey requested his brother, Raggs, to hide proof from legislation enforcement. Along with fees associated to drug trafficking, Danzey can also be being charged with tried homicide within the second diploma and Raggs is being charged with hindering prosecution within the second diploma.
Aaron Sweeney and Ryan Faniel had been two different central figures who offered cocaine and oxycodone in Wayne, Monroe, and Ontario counties. Because the investigation developed, it was additional revealed that Sweeney was additionally sourcing medication from people in Rochester.
Part Two: Avenue D, Rochester
Investigators discovered that Sweeney obtained cocaine from Raquel Torres a/okay/a “Ma,” of 236 Avenue D, Rochester, New York, resulting in the invention of distributors and resellers dwelling throughout the 200 block of Avenue D. Along with Torres, investigators discovered that a number of drug resellers had been dwelling inside a number of blocks of one another on Avenue D together with Alexis Broida a/okay/a “Lexi,” Jacquinn Edwards, Jasmine Ofray, and Raymond Vega. This single block within the metropolis of Rochester was a significant trafficking hub that distributed these harmful medication all through the area. Patrons can be directed to completely different homes on Avenue D to choose up their medication, together with homes known as the “Inexperienced Home,” the “Blue Home,” the “Yellow Home,” and the “Camper” based mostly upon their exterior look. These distribution homes had been all run by Vega.
Part Three: The Rivera Household
The investigative group discovered that most of the Avenue D narcotics sellers had a single supply for his or her cocaine provide, Luis Rivera. This info led to the third part of the investigation, and thru intercepted communications and different proof, investigators established that Luis Rivera and his sons, Luis Emmanuel a/okay/a “Manny” Rivera, Natan a/okay/a/ “Nate” Rivera, and Jacob a/okay/a “J” Rivera, together with their associates, had been working a multi-kilogram degree fentanyl and cocaine distribution community. The Riveras managed their operation out of a residential constructing in Rochester the place Luis was the superintendent and the place his son Manny lived. Luis and J Rivera organized giant shipments of fentanyl from California to Rochester, and several other of those shipments had been intercepted by investigators. J Rivera, who was serving time in federal jail in Louisiana on the time, smuggled contraband cellphones into jail to handle these shipments and the general drug trafficking operation. The Riveras additionally offered fentanyl in capsule type, claiming that it was oxycodone, placing their consumers at even better threat.
Luis and J Rivera have been charged with Working as a Main Trafficker, which carries a most sentence of 25 years to life.
In addition they created a restricted legal responsibility firm (LLC) to launder cash from their drug operation to buy funding properties. Luis, J, and Manny have additionally been charged with Cash Laundering within the Second Diploma.
“I want to thank Lawyer Normal James for her partnership and assist all through this investigation, in addition to all of our legislation enforcement companions who assisted with this case,” mentioned Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby. “Three years in the past, the roots of this investigation delved into the sources of illicit narcotics in Wayne County and rapidly led to different areas of the Finger Lakes Area. On account of our collective work, we’ll stop the overdose deaths that we now have been seeing a lot of, and maintain accountable those that have been on legislation enforcement’s radar and are liable for harming our communities with harmful medication. Along with the arrests and seizures of unlawful weapons, medication, and proceeds via this investigation, the standard of life in Western New York has additionally simply improved tremendously.”
“I want to thank and provides credit score to the Lawyer Normal’s workplace for his or her arduous work on this matter,” mentioned Wayne County District Lawyer Mike Calarco. “By the mixed places of work of the New York Lawyer Normal and the Wayne County District Lawyer’s workplace we now have been in a position to make Wayne County safer. It’s a testomony of what will be achieved when a number of legislation enforcement companies associate and work collectively.”
“The Ontario County Sheriff’s Workplace is proud to have partnered with our state and native companions on this intensive investigation involving gross sales of illicit medication,” mentioned Ontario County Sheriff David J. Cirencione. “All members of legislation enforcement throughout this area are united in working to rid our neighborhoods of those medication that poison our communities. These apprehended on this operation immediately and any others concerned within the distribution of narcotics had higher take discover that we’re watching. We are going to proceed to pool our sources in pursuing you till you and your unlawful medication are off of our streets.”
Seized medication and weapons.
Seized fentanyl.
The takedown marked one other main drug bust within the Lawyer Normal’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Rising Epidemic (S.U.R.G.E.) Initiative, a legislation enforcement effort that brings collectively state and native legislation enforcement to focus on New York’s rising — and sometimes violent — heroin, fentanyl, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. Since launching in 2017, SURGE has taken 879 alleged traffickers off the streets.
The 48 people who had been charged with numerous crimes in relation to their involvement within the narcotics trafficking operation, that embody numerous counts of Prison Sale and Prison Possession of a Managed Substance (Class A, B, and C felonies), and Conspiracy to Commit these crimes, embody:
Treshon Alexander, a/okay/a “Tre,” 30 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Tyrone Berry, 41 years outdated, Lyons, NY
Alexis Broida, a/okay/a/ “Lexi,” 30 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Derrick Brown, 39 years outdated, Lyons, NY
Geneva Rivera, a/okay/a “Geneva Brown,” 31 years outdated, Grand Island, NY
James Butler, 76 years outdated, Newark, NY
Michael Danzey, 38 years outdated, Sodus, NY
Jacquinn Edwards, 36 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Ryan Faniel, 35 years outdated, Palmyra, NY
Romanis Glanton, 44 years outdated, Newark, NY
Jeanette Gonzalez, 48 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Jay Quanna Arrimintha Inexperienced, 28 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Karmalus Herrington, 48 years outdated, Newark, NY
Christopher Johnston, 27 years outdated, Penn Yann, NY
Alicia Lannon, 34 years outdated, Palmyra, NY
Daniel Littles, 35 years outdated, Lyons, NY
Carlos Luna, a/okay/a “Flaco,” 46 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Christina Martin, 44 years outdated, Newark, NY
Nelson Martinez, 44 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Randolph Mattice, 55 years outdated, Canandaigua, NY
Brooke Miner, 25 years outdated, Newark, NY
Jamaal Moody, 32 years outdated, Newark, NY
Megan Murray, 31 years outdated, Fairport, NY
Jasmine Ofray, 36 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Andrea Parker, 51 years outdated, Palmyra, NY
Terrance Raggs, 45 years outdated, Sodus, NY
Tyquail Raggs, 24 years outdated, Sodus, NY
Jacob Rivera, a/okay/a “J,” 32 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Luis Rivera, 66 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Luis Emmanuel Rivera, a/okay/a “Manuel,” a/okay/a “Manny,” 28 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Natan Rivera, a/okay/a “Nate,” 25 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Daniel Rodriguez, 33 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Joshua Rodriguez, 28 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Xavier Roman, a/okay/a “Javi,” 47 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Ulysses Sanchez, a/okay/a “Chichi,” 34 years outdated, Rochester, NY
William Sanchez, a/okay/a “Billy,” 45 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Matthew Simmons, 38 years outdated, Lyons, NY
Amber Streeter, 35 years outdated, Newark, NY
Aaron Sweeney, 23 years outdated, Fairport, NY
David Sweeney, 44 years outdated, Macedon, NY
Richard Taft, 36 years outdated, Lyons, NY
Nicholas Tandle, 39 years outdated, Geneva, NY
Victoria Tandle, 25 years outdated, Lyons, NY
Raquel Torres, a/okay/a “Ma,” 45 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Raymond Vega, 56 years outdated, Rochester, NY
Scott Wheaton, 45 years outdated, Pulaski, NY
William Wheaton, 43 years outdated, Clifton Springs, NY
Brandon Williams, 30 years outdated, Savannah, NY
Michael Danzey can also be charged with Tried Homicide and Assault within the First Diploma, and associated crimes, and Terrance Raggs is charged with Hindering Prosecution.
The costs in opposition to the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed harmless until and till confirmed responsible in a courtroom of legislation.
“The opioid disaster has prompted 1000’s of deadly overdoses annually, however immediately’s drug takedown is bringing us one step nearer to ridding Monroe County of dangerous medication and making certain the security of our residents,” mentioned Monroe County Govt Adam Bello. “From taking up opioid producers to going after unlawful drug traffickers, I thank Lawyer Normal James for her unwavering dedication to defending the well being and well-being of New Yorkers.”
“Opioids and different unlawful medication proceed to gasoline violence in Rochester and trigger struggling for many who wrestle with dependancy or lose family members to overdoses,” mentioned Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. “The use and sale of unlawful medication additionally harms the harmless neighbors the place this exercise takes place. I wish to thank Lawyer Normal Letitia James for her management on this essential concern and making it a precedence to get harmful medication off our streets and cease drug trafficking in our state. Legislation enforcement partnerships play a significant function in our efforts to create a secure, equitable, and affluent Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering alternative for everybody.”
Lawyer Normal James want to thank the Wayne County Sheriff’s Workplace, Ontario County Sheriff’s Workplace, Seneca County Sheriff’s Workplace, Wayne County District Lawyer’s Workplace, Wayne County Probation Division, Canandaigua Police Division, Newark Police Division, Geneva Police Division, New York State Division of Corrections and Neighborhood Supervision, Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace, New York State Police, Rochester Police Division, the Larger Rochester Space Narcotics Enforcement Staff, Homeland Safety Investigations, Drug Enforcement Company, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, United States Probation Division, Riverside County Sheriff’s Workplace, California Sheriff’s Workplace, New York/New Jersey Excessive Depth Drug Trafficking Areas Rochester workplace, the Monroe Crime Analyst Heart, and america Postal Inspector’s Workplace.
The investigation was led by Wayne County Detective Roger LaClair and OAG OCTF Detectives Phillip Sindoni and David Guidici, below the supervision of OCTF Supervising Investigator Timothy MacConaghy and retired Supervising Investigator Thomas M. Wolf, OCTF Assistant Chief Investigator John Monte and Deputy Chief Investigator Andrew Boss. The Lawyer Normal’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.
The case is being prosecuted by OAG OCTF Assistant Deputy Lawyer Normal and Senior Investigative Counsel James J. Mindell, with the help of Authorized Assist Analyst Sean McCauley and OCTF Confidential Clerk Theresa Rowe, below the supervision of Upstate OCTF Deputy Chief Maria Moran. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Lawyer Normal in Cost of OCTF. The Prison Justice Division is led by Chief Deputy Lawyer Normal Jose Maldonado. Each the Investigations Division and the Prison Justice Division are overseen by First Deputy Lawyer Normal Jennifer Levy.