AUBURN - A Syracuse woman with 47 petit larceny arrests, more than 40 convictions, and was sent to prison Tuesday for at least the next two years.

Described as a career criminal, Phyllis Walker, 47, of Syracuse, 26 known aliases, and a half-dozen Social Security numbers to help avoid prosecution.

After getting caught in the Cayuga County jail last summer with crack cocaine, Walker pleaded guilty to first-degree possession dangerous contraband.

Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Walker has two prior felony convictions, a second-degree forgery from 1993 and a fourth-degree grand larceny from 1997.

Prior to being arrested while an inmate in the jail, she was caught allegedly trying to steal cough syrup in Weedsport.

Budelmann requested that Walker be sentenced to 2 1/2-5 years. However, Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich sentenced her to the statutory minimum of 2-4 years in prison.

James Leone, Walker's assigned attorney, said his client's life was controlled by her addictions and that is what pushed her, time and time again, into crimes. He reminded the court that most of her legal problems were larceny-related.

Fandrich noted that drug rehabilitation probably wouldn't work, noting that she's already been to rehab.

Also in Cayuga County Court:

• Mark Lukowski, 39, of North Fulton Street, Auburn, pleaded guilty to second-degree possession of marijuana. He is expected to be sentenced to one year in jail on Feb. 10.

• Daniel Sweeting, 41, of Auburn, had bail set at $15,000 cash or $20,000 bond. He is accused of holding a pair of scissors to the neck of a woman Sept. 10 in Auburn, while threatening to kill her.

• Hiram R. Franco, 37, of White Road, Union Springs, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape. He is expected to get shock probation when sentenced Feb. 10.

To reach Staff Writer Joey West, call 253-5311, ext. 239.