In a significant crackdown on drug traffickers, New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced the convictions and sentencings of 47 individuals connected to two large-scale drug operations in the Finger Lakes region, as reported by the Attorney General's office. The investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force (OAG OCTF) in collaboration with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office uncovered and dismantled networks responsible for trafficking over 10 kilograms each of fentanyl and cocaine, estimated to be worth upwards of $9 million. Amongst the firearms and cash seized, law enforcement found 19 guns including assault weapons and ghost guns, and in excess of $440,000 in cash.
With these sentencings, Attorney General James reaffirms her commitment to rooting out the sources of dangerous narcotics plaguing communities. Michael Danzey, a pivotal figure in the Wayne County drug circle and previously involved in a June 2021 attempted murder, received a sentence of 25 years in prison plus five years of post-release supervision, sending a strong message to collaborators in the drug trade. The extensive investigative efforts employed in this case spanned covert surveillance, electronic eavesdropping and the execution of various search warrants, all of which led to the takedown of significant players, including Michael Danzey's brother Terrance Raggs and the Rivera family, who steered the cocaine and fentanyl distribution operation out of Rochester, as well as their conspirators spread across the region.
In her statement, James pointed out the precision of this strike against "sophisticated drug trafficking networks" and her unyielding pursuit of justice against those endangering New Yorkers with illicit substances. Law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rallied together as a formidable coalition that shielded local communities from the onslaught of drug-related violence and death, as noted by the Attorney General's Office.
The ripple effect of these investigations and subsequent convictions is reflected in the sentiments of Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby, who acknowledged the multi-year probe's culmination into a safer environment and improved quality of life for the citizens of Western New York. Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter praised the collaborative effort as well, adamant that the unified front of law enforcement will persistently target and dismantle violent drug networks. The teamwork and meticulous execution by all parties involved, given their tirelessness and professionalism, underscores a dedication to safeguarding public welfare and eliminating the scourge of drug trafficking from the Finger Lakes and beyond.
The convictions spread across a spectrum of charges from criminal possession of a controlled substance to attempted murder, with sentences ranging from probation to significant prison terms. Key individuals, such as Treshon Alexander, Tyrone Berry, and Nelson Martinez, faced varying degrees of justice, according to the specifics of their involvement in the sales and circulation of controlled substances. By collectively addressing the supply chain's operational core, authorities have fostered a disruption in the drug commerce that has touched the lives of many across Wayne, Monroe, Cayuga, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, and Yates counties.
