Drug Investigations in NY, NJ Lead to Dozens of Arrests, Seizures

Law enforcement agencies in New York and New Jersey have arrested more than a dozen people and seized narcotics, firearms, and cash in a series of recent drug investigations. The cases include a months-long probe in Jersey City, a month-long investigation in Syracuse, and multiple operations in Sullivan County.

In Jersey City, three guns were seized and 12 people were charged after a months-long investigation into reported drug sales on Clinton Avenue, prosecutors said. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition and quantities of cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs were found. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics and Gangs Task Force conducted the investigation with the Jersey City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Charges included offenses related to possession of heroin and cocaine, possession of multiple handguns, large capacity magazines, oxycodone, and promethazine. An arrest warrant was also issued for one suspect.

In Syracuse, a month-long investigation by the New York State Police and the Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team led to the arrest of Christopher L. Smith, 38. Search warrants executed at a residence on South Edwards Avenue resulted in the seizure of $14,768 in cash, approximately 154.7 grams of fentanyl, approximately 115.7 grams of crack cocaine, packaging materials, and three digital scales containing cocaine residue. Smith was charged with multiple felonies, including criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia counts. He was arraigned and remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail.

In Fallsburg, a two-month investigation into suspected drug sales at a residence on Whittaker Road resulted in two arrests. Authorities seized cocaine, ecstasy, Xanax, fentanyl, and Suboxone after executing a search warrant. Sherri Sanders, 62, was arrested at the residence, and Floyd VanWagner, 58, was arrested after a vehicle left the property. Both were charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, along with misdemeanor criminal use of drug paraphernalia. A third person, Steven Williams, 63, was arrested on an outstanding petit larceny warrant. Sanders and VanWagner were released pending future court appearances under New York’s bail reform law.

In Sullivan County, three people were arrested in two separate investigations. On January 22, Tyrese Phipps, 21, of Monticello, was arrested on felony charges of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was released to appear in court at a future date. On January 29, a search warrant at an apartment in the John Crawford Housing development in Monticello led to the seizure of crack/cocaine, digital scales, packaging material, and other drug paraphernalia. Eleven individuals were found inside; Douglas White, 75, was arrested on a felony possession charge and a misdemeanor paraphernalia charge, and Angela Moeller, 42, was arrested on an active warrant. White was remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail, and Moeller was also sent to jail without bail. The other nine individuals were released without charges.