Within two weeks Saratoga Springs, Wilton and Moreau have seen 11
crack-cocaine dealers and two large-scale marijuana dealers arrested
and taken off the streets
Although two separate cases, these events show that dealers are trafficking narcotics into the area from outside the region. According to Lt. Gregory Veitch of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, some of those arrested linked to the crack-cocaine case were individuals from Bronx, N.Y. who travel to Upstate New York to get higher prices for the drugs. As for the marijuana bust, a Wilton man and a woman from Chesapeake, V.A. were arrested Tuesday evening on charges that they conspired to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Former championship mountain biker Melissa Giove, 37, of Chesapeake, V.A. and Eric Canori, 30, 22 Preserve Way, Wilton were arrested after the Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted an investigation that led to the discovery of more than 350 pounds of marijuana and approximately $1 million in cash.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. District Court, authorities were tipped off by someone arrested in Moline, Ill. that Giove was headed to Albany International Airport. The Task Force, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the confidential informant arranged a controlled delivery of the marijuana to Giove at a Hilton hotel in Albany.
Investigators set up surveillance at the hotel and witnessed Giove pick up a truck and trailer containing the drugs. She then drove to Hannaford Supermarket on Weibel Avenue where she met Canori and followed him to his residence in Wilton where some of the contents of the trailer were unloaded into his home. After they went their separate ways, investigators followed Giove to Saratoga Lake where she was confronted by police. The trailer was then searched and the marijuana was found. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators searched Canori's residence where they found additional marijuana, a money counter, plastic bags and about $1 million in cash.
If convicted, Giove and Conari face a mandatory sentence of five to 40 years in prison and a fine up to $2 million.
Because this case is being handled at the Federal level, local authorities are not able to speak about the case.
Crack-Cocaine investigation uncovers ring in Saratoga and Warren Counties
After six months of collaboration and investigation by multiple police agencies, 11 people were arrested in connection to a drug ring police believe was responsible for providing crack-cocaine to the area for the past year.
The following people were arrested:
• Christian Maldanado, 28, of 1095 University Ave., Bronx, N.Y., was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (CSCS 3rd), a class-B felony.
• David Garcia, 35, of 35 Van Dam St., Saratoga Springs and 1095 University Ave., Bronx, was charged with first-degree robbery, a class-B felony, and CSCS 3rd.
• Alexander Reyes, 27, of 1812 Clinton Ave., Bronx, N.Y., was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• David Graham, 19, of 1096 University Ave., Bronx, N.Y. was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Christopher Simione, 52, of 124 Gordon Lane, Gansevoort, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Debra Curtis, 43, of 2354 State Rt. 9N, Lake George, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Samuel Wattree, 25, of 331 Division St., Schenectady, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• James Roche, 37, of 45B Allen Dr., Saratoga Springs, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Rose Marie Rivera, 23, of 25 Doten Ave., Saratoga Springs, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class-B felony.
• Katie Barton, 29, of 29 Green St., Apt. 1, Mechanicville, was charged with first-degree robbery, a class-D felony.
• Mark Galvin, 40, of 3A James Ct., Northumberland, was charged with first-degree criminal nuisance, a class-E felony.
In late 2008, police from three different agencies learned they were investigating the same group of people who were loosely associated with one another and were distributing crack-cocaine locally. The departments then came together with the Drug Enforcement Agency to coordinate their efforts.
The investigation revealed that members of the group traveled to the New York City area to buy bulk quantities of cocaine to be "cooked" into crack-cocaine and sold on the streets of Saratoga and Warren Counties for $50 to $100 per "rock." In New York City, the rocks could be sold for as little at $5, so it is presumed that the dealers came to this area because of a higher profit margin, District Attorney James Murphy, III said.
The first arrests occurred in February when Garcia and Barton were arrested on armed robbery charges at a motel in the Town of Moreau where they were rob-bing rival dealers. With each arrest, more suspects were identified and arrested.
According to Murphy, he will insist that dealers go to prison for their crimes as they were profiteering from other people's addictions. Those who were arrested for possession will likely go into a drug treatment program so they can get the proper help they need.
"We don't allow dealers to go into drug treatment court as treatment won't benefit them, they are trying to take the easy way out. There are limited beds in treatment facilities and they should go to those who need them," Murphy said. "You'd be surprised by how many dealers don't use drugs. They are entrepreneurs who are supporting their own high-class lifestyle who count on addiction to keep customers."
He added that this network of arrests will most likely be "part one" and he anticipates more charges and arrests.
Agencies involved include Saratoga Springs Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police - Wilton, New York State Police CNET - Capital, Warren County Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit, DEA Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force and the United State's Marshall's Office.
Lt. Veitch said that while marijuana is a prevalent drug everywhere, cocaine and heroin use are growing in this area. Cocaine has always been a problem, but heroin is gaining popularity because it is cheap and no longer needs to be injected with a needle.
"Heroin doesn't have that 'dirty' connotation anymore because it can be smoked or snorted, which seems to give it less of a stigma. People don't think about how addicting these drugs are when they are 'trying' them which make them so dangerous," Veitch said.
In order to hone in on the drug use and catch dealers, officers rely partly on people knowing their own neighborhoods and using the station's tip line if they notice anything awry.
"Bottom line, people know what their neighborhoods look like. When there is a lot of activity somewhere, people notice," Veitch said. "We still live in a good city, but we aren't immune."
Former championship mountain biker Melissa Giove, 37, of Chesapeake, V.A. and Eric Canori, 30, 22 Preserve Way, Wilton were arrested after the Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted an investigation that led to the discovery of more than 350 pounds of marijuana and approximately $1 million in cash.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. District Court, authorities were tipped off by someone arrested in Moline, Ill. that Giove was headed to Albany International Airport. The Task Force, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the confidential informant arranged a controlled delivery of the marijuana to Giove at a Hilton hotel in Albany.
Investigators set up surveillance at the hotel and witnessed Giove pick up a truck and trailer containing the drugs. She then drove to Hannaford Supermarket on Weibel Avenue where she met Canori and followed him to his residence in Wilton where some of the contents of the trailer were unloaded into his home. After they went their separate ways, investigators followed Giove to Saratoga Lake where she was confronted by police. The trailer was then searched and the marijuana was found. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators searched Canori's residence where they found additional marijuana, a money counter, plastic bags and about $1 million in cash.
If convicted, Giove and Conari face a mandatory sentence of five to 40 years in prison and a fine up to $2 million.
Because this case is being handled at the Federal level, local authorities are not able to speak about the case.
Crack-Cocaine investigation uncovers ring in Saratoga and Warren Counties
After six months of collaboration and investigation by multiple police agencies, 11 people were arrested in connection to a drug ring police believe was responsible for providing crack-cocaine to the area for the past year.
The following people were arrested:
• Christian Maldanado, 28, of 1095 University Ave., Bronx, N.Y., was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (CSCS 3rd), a class-B felony.
• David Garcia, 35, of 35 Van Dam St., Saratoga Springs and 1095 University Ave., Bronx, was charged with first-degree robbery, a class-B felony, and CSCS 3rd.
• Alexander Reyes, 27, of 1812 Clinton Ave., Bronx, N.Y., was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• David Graham, 19, of 1096 University Ave., Bronx, N.Y. was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Christopher Simione, 52, of 124 Gordon Lane, Gansevoort, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Debra Curtis, 43, of 2354 State Rt. 9N, Lake George, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Samuel Wattree, 25, of 331 Division St., Schenectady, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• James Roche, 37, of 45B Allen Dr., Saratoga Springs, was charged with CSCS 3rd.
• Rose Marie Rivera, 23, of 25 Doten Ave., Saratoga Springs, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class-B felony.
• Katie Barton, 29, of 29 Green St., Apt. 1, Mechanicville, was charged with first-degree robbery, a class-D felony.
• Mark Galvin, 40, of 3A James Ct., Northumberland, was charged with first-degree criminal nuisance, a class-E felony.
In late 2008, police from three different agencies learned they were investigating the same group of people who were loosely associated with one another and were distributing crack-cocaine locally. The departments then came together with the Drug Enforcement Agency to coordinate their efforts.
The investigation revealed that members of the group traveled to the New York City area to buy bulk quantities of cocaine to be "cooked" into crack-cocaine and sold on the streets of Saratoga and Warren Counties for $50 to $100 per "rock." In New York City, the rocks could be sold for as little at $5, so it is presumed that the dealers came to this area because of a higher profit margin, District Attorney James Murphy, III said.
The first arrests occurred in February when Garcia and Barton were arrested on armed robbery charges at a motel in the Town of Moreau where they were rob-bing rival dealers. With each arrest, more suspects were identified and arrested.
According to Murphy, he will insist that dealers go to prison for their crimes as they were profiteering from other people's addictions. Those who were arrested for possession will likely go into a drug treatment program so they can get the proper help they need.
"We don't allow dealers to go into drug treatment court as treatment won't benefit them, they are trying to take the easy way out. There are limited beds in treatment facilities and they should go to those who need them," Murphy said. "You'd be surprised by how many dealers don't use drugs. They are entrepreneurs who are supporting their own high-class lifestyle who count on addiction to keep customers."
He added that this network of arrests will most likely be "part one" and he anticipates more charges and arrests.
Agencies involved include Saratoga Springs Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police - Wilton, New York State Police CNET - Capital, Warren County Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit, DEA Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force and the United State's Marshall's Office.
Lt. Veitch said that while marijuana is a prevalent drug everywhere, cocaine and heroin use are growing in this area. Cocaine has always been a problem, but heroin is gaining popularity because it is cheap and no longer needs to be injected with a needle.
"Heroin doesn't have that 'dirty' connotation anymore because it can be smoked or snorted, which seems to give it less of a stigma. People don't think about how addicting these drugs are when they are 'trying' them which make them so dangerous," Veitch said.
In order to hone in on the drug use and catch dealers, officers rely partly on people knowing their own neighborhoods and using the station's tip line if they notice anything awry.
"Bottom line, people know what their neighborhoods look like. When there is a lot of activity somewhere, people notice," Veitch said. "We still live in a good city, but we aren't immune."
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