Three police cars pulled to the side of leaf-lined Simmons Road in Sterling. Two Auburn Police Department officers and one state police investigator - all in plain clothes - stepped out of an unmarked state police car. The trio put on bulletproof vests and then shirts or jackets identifying them as law enforcement.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Jerome Yates, left, and Sara Spencer are led from their home in Fair Haven after police served a warrant for their arrests Wednesday morning. According to police, Yates is accused of being a leader in a drug ring that distributed cocaine throughout the northern Cayuga County area.
Jerome Yates, left, and Sara Spencer are led from their home in Fair Haven after police served a warrant for their arrests Wednesday morning. According to police, Yates is accused of being a leader in a drug ring that distributed cocaine throughout the northern Cayuga County area.
Their driving companions - two Cayuga County sheriff's deputies in marked cars with back-seat cages ready to hold the wanted - were already in uniform and garbed for action.
New York State Police Investigator Jared Proper, APD officers Brian Blanchfield and Brandy Quigley, and sheriff's deputies Matt Hare and Jack Powers were on their way to execute two warrants in the first round of arrests in a large-scale drug bust Wednesday. By the end of the day, about 30 suspects were arrested for alleged involvement in two different drug rings under investigation since August.
A northern Cayuga County drug ring is accused of obtaining cocaine downstate in Westchester County and distributing it in and around Cayuga County. Another drug ring allegedly distributed cocaine and ecstasy in Auburn and nearby towns, as well as Onondaga and Oswego counties.
Search warrants were executed March 14 in the northern Cayuga County case, leading to the seizure of more than three pounds of cocaine, at least $5,000 in cash, five handguns and 12 rifles, police said. More cocaine, one hundred ecstasy pills and $3,500 in cash was seized from the other ring.
A 24-hour, seven-day-a-week wiretap investigation - headed by APD officer Roger Anthony and Sheriff Det. William Quigley - began last year and involved several officers beyond both agencies' narcotics team. The New York State Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force provided equipment and extra people to conduct telephone eavesdropping.
Some of those officers went Wednesday to a shore road on the east side of Little Sodus Bay, keeping up the fast pace they had set since leaving the Cayuga County Public Safety Building at 6 a.m.
In the early day, golden fingers of sunlight were inserted between the shadows of trees and buildings. The five officers parked their cars out of sight up the street from their targets' 14637 Fancher Ave. home.
A dog on the front deck of the lakeside home barked mildly. A rabbit was startled as three officers walked down steps set between long stalks of lavender-shaded flowers. Sheriff's deputies Hare and Powers moved to guard the perimeter at either side of the brown cottage with a short front-line roof that extends further in the back.
A neighbor driving by worried that the police presence meant a break-in. Another elderly neighbor studiously ignored the official presence while walking her blonde-haired cocker spaniel.
The emphatic knock of the officers was answered quickly. When informed of the arrest warrants, Sara Anne Spencer, 33, and Jerome L. Yates, 36, surrendered without incident around 7:15 a.m.
The strong showing of officers ended up being precautionary, and a street with whimsical house names of The Knoll and Nob Hill was not ruffled too much by a drug bust involving defendants accused of involvement in trafficking more than three pounds of cocaine. They were escorted separately in Hare's and Powers' patrol cars to be booked at the Cayuga County Public Safety Building in Sennett.
Yates was labeled by the APD as a ringleader in procuring cocaine from Westchester County and selling it in Cayuga and Oswego counties. Spencer, self-identified as his wife, faces a solitary felony charge of second-degree conspiracy.
Officers had gathered at 6 a.m. for a speedy briefing and to form into their pre-assigned, multi-agency teams.
True to the old police stereotype, there were buckets-worth of coffee and piles of donuts and bagels available. The coffee was downed fast, but the pastries were barely touched.
Most were out of uniform wearing casual clothes like T-shirts that read: New Jersey Law Enforcement Run or DEA Quantico or APD printed in block lettering. Agents were present from the APD and the sheriff's office, who investigate drug crimes jointly through the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, as well as the state police, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and the state Parole Division.
The early hour was chosen to snare more suspects at home and to avoid as many tip-offs as possible between co-defendants. The teams were sent out with prepared packets with arrest warrants and the last known address of their targets.
Officers came back for a second round of arrest warrants after successfully - or unsuccessfully - executing the first round that focused on suspects at the northern end of the county. While waiting for enough officers to free up to head out again for an Auburn-focused arrest roundup, they compared brands of bulletproof vests or chatted about what they knew about the suspects.
By 9 a.m. two sets of officers went out at the same time to arrest Alshadeem Brown, 29, of 136 Van Anden St., and Bruce Wingate, 21, of 8 Wallace Ave., Auburn. They wanted to avoid the two buddies warning each other.
The team slated to arrest Brown included APD Officers Tim Cottrell and Greg Gilfus and Sheriff's Deputy Nicole Stewart. Brown was at the second of his known addresses: 69 Chapman Ave.
A woman answering the door in a nightgown said he wouldn't run. Indeed, Brown surrendered quietly. A dog padded after Brown as he was led to the patrol car until it was called back to the house.
Brown and Wingate are accused of distributing cocaine and ecstasy in Cayuga County.
Drug busts were coordinated for a collective sweep by law enforcement agencies working with the attorney general's office in Cayuga, Lewis, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties. Drug trafficking charges have been filed across the state against 104 defendants.
In a separate bust from the Cayuga County-centered rings, Jason Knopp, 29, of Martville, and 15 other defendants are charged with obtaining cocaine in New York City and reselling it in Onondaga and Oswego counties. Knopp faces a felony charge of second-degree conspiracy.
Seventeen individuals were wanted for involvement in the cocaine trafficked from Westchester County.
George Finney Jr., of Elmsford, Westchester County, is accused of selling the cocaine to area residents, Jack VanDeViver, Timothy Jackson and Yates, who then distributed it in Cayuga and Oswego counties. Some suspects are still wanted.
Fifteen individuals were wanted for involvement in the trafficking of cocaine and ecstasy in Cayuga Onondaga and Oswego counties. Brown and Joe Roy Baker are accused of distributing the drugs to co-conspirators. Baker is still wanted along with three others.
Law enforcement celebrated the opportunity to slow down the local drug trade.
Drug activity should be quieter this summer, APD Chief Gary Giannotta predicted. “We had some persistent offenders we picked up today,” he said.
“The successful conclusion to this extremely labor-intensive operation is a relief to all of us in law enforcement,” Sheriff Rob Outhouse said. “We're finally able to reap the fruits of our labor. Our covert operation aimed at zero tolerance is more proof that we can collectively police this area, protecting the public from drug trafficking.”
Arrested Wednesday on drug charges in Cayuga and nearby counties:
€ Alshadeem R. Brown, 29, of 136 VanAnden St., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy; felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (six counts).
€ Charles A. Donato, 28, of 2650 Quick Silver Drive, Fleming: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (two counts).
€ Crystal R. Hames, 23, of 120 Webster. Ave., Syracuse: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
€ Earl J. Heath, 24, of 6170 Lake St., Auburn: Felony fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance; misdemeanor fifth-degree conspiracy.
€ Christopher J. Macknail, 24, of Upper Apt., 145 Wall St., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ Vann M. Macknail, 22, of 16 Orchard St., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ John F. McCandrew, 22, of Apt. A3, 131 Prospect Pointe Apartments, Auburn: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Robert A. Williams, 28, of 145 Olympia Ave., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ Bruce Wingate, 21, of 8 Wallace Ave., Auburn: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Eric M. Adams, 40, of 1024 Sterling Station Road, Sterling: Felony second-degree conspiracy; misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
€ Julie A. Adams, 34, of 1024 Sterling Station Road, Sterling: Felony second-degree conspiracy; misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
€ George Finney Jr., 34, of 68 Abbott Ave., Elmsford: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Timothy R. Jackson, 37, 14565 Church St., Fair Haven: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felony second-degree conspiracy, misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ David Orbaker, 44, of Mill Street, Hannibal: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Penny L. Parker Lalik, 15056 Route 104, Martville: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Wayne E. Sears, 45, of Main Street, Wolcott: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Sara A. Spencer, 33, of 14637 Fancher Ave., Fair Haven: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Jack VanDeViver, 50, of Sterling Station Road, Fair Haven: felony first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon (four counts); misdemeanor criminal use of drug paraphernalia
€ Terry F. VanDyke, 46, of 551 Wilcox St., Fair Haven: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Jerome L. Yates, 36, of 14637 Fancher Ave., Fair Haven: Felony second-degree conspiracy; felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
€ Devin R. Younglove, 23, of 13646 Kakat Road, Red Creek: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Randy J. Aaserud, 40, of 1863 Dougall Road, Fleming: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts).
€ Shana Barnett, 25, Apt. C4, 120 Riverdale Drive, Syracuse: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (two counts); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts); felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ Ronald J. Cahill, 41, of 26 Niagara St., Oswego: Felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Reginald S. Knight, 40, of 404 N. Grandywine Ave., Schenectedy: Felony first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Tommie Martin, 30, of 666 Parsells Ave., Rochester: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (three counts); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (three counts).
€ Jessica McMann, 29, of 6170 Lake St., Cayuga: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Charles N. Vaughn, 33, of Apt. C4, 120 Riverdale Drive, Syracuse: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (two counts); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts); felony second-degree conspiracy.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
New York State Police Investigator Jared Proper, APD officers Brian Blanchfield and Brandy Quigley, and sheriff's deputies Matt Hare and Jack Powers were on their way to execute two warrants in the first round of arrests in a large-scale drug bust Wednesday. By the end of the day, about 30 suspects were arrested for alleged involvement in two different drug rings under investigation since August.
A northern Cayuga County drug ring is accused of obtaining cocaine downstate in Westchester County and distributing it in and around Cayuga County. Another drug ring allegedly distributed cocaine and ecstasy in Auburn and nearby towns, as well as Onondaga and Oswego counties.
Search warrants were executed March 14 in the northern Cayuga County case, leading to the seizure of more than three pounds of cocaine, at least $5,000 in cash, five handguns and 12 rifles, police said. More cocaine, one hundred ecstasy pills and $3,500 in cash was seized from the other ring.
A 24-hour, seven-day-a-week wiretap investigation - headed by APD officer Roger Anthony and Sheriff Det. William Quigley - began last year and involved several officers beyond both agencies' narcotics team. The New York State Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force provided equipment and extra people to conduct telephone eavesdropping.
Some of those officers went Wednesday to a shore road on the east side of Little Sodus Bay, keeping up the fast pace they had set since leaving the Cayuga County Public Safety Building at 6 a.m.
In the early day, golden fingers of sunlight were inserted between the shadows of trees and buildings. The five officers parked their cars out of sight up the street from their targets' 14637 Fancher Ave. home.
A dog on the front deck of the lakeside home barked mildly. A rabbit was startled as three officers walked down steps set between long stalks of lavender-shaded flowers. Sheriff's deputies Hare and Powers moved to guard the perimeter at either side of the brown cottage with a short front-line roof that extends further in the back.
A neighbor driving by worried that the police presence meant a break-in. Another elderly neighbor studiously ignored the official presence while walking her blonde-haired cocker spaniel.
The emphatic knock of the officers was answered quickly. When informed of the arrest warrants, Sara Anne Spencer, 33, and Jerome L. Yates, 36, surrendered without incident around 7:15 a.m.
The strong showing of officers ended up being precautionary, and a street with whimsical house names of The Knoll and Nob Hill was not ruffled too much by a drug bust involving defendants accused of involvement in trafficking more than three pounds of cocaine. They were escorted separately in Hare's and Powers' patrol cars to be booked at the Cayuga County Public Safety Building in Sennett.
Yates was labeled by the APD as a ringleader in procuring cocaine from Westchester County and selling it in Cayuga and Oswego counties. Spencer, self-identified as his wife, faces a solitary felony charge of second-degree conspiracy.
Officers had gathered at 6 a.m. for a speedy briefing and to form into their pre-assigned, multi-agency teams.
True to the old police stereotype, there were buckets-worth of coffee and piles of donuts and bagels available. The coffee was downed fast, but the pastries were barely touched.
Most were out of uniform wearing casual clothes like T-shirts that read: New Jersey Law Enforcement Run or DEA Quantico or APD printed in block lettering. Agents were present from the APD and the sheriff's office, who investigate drug crimes jointly through the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, as well as the state police, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals and the state Parole Division.
The early hour was chosen to snare more suspects at home and to avoid as many tip-offs as possible between co-defendants. The teams were sent out with prepared packets with arrest warrants and the last known address of their targets.
Officers came back for a second round of arrest warrants after successfully - or unsuccessfully - executing the first round that focused on suspects at the northern end of the county. While waiting for enough officers to free up to head out again for an Auburn-focused arrest roundup, they compared brands of bulletproof vests or chatted about what they knew about the suspects.
By 9 a.m. two sets of officers went out at the same time to arrest Alshadeem Brown, 29, of 136 Van Anden St., and Bruce Wingate, 21, of 8 Wallace Ave., Auburn. They wanted to avoid the two buddies warning each other.
The team slated to arrest Brown included APD Officers Tim Cottrell and Greg Gilfus and Sheriff's Deputy Nicole Stewart. Brown was at the second of his known addresses: 69 Chapman Ave.
A woman answering the door in a nightgown said he wouldn't run. Indeed, Brown surrendered quietly. A dog padded after Brown as he was led to the patrol car until it was called back to the house.
Brown and Wingate are accused of distributing cocaine and ecstasy in Cayuga County.
Drug busts were coordinated for a collective sweep by law enforcement agencies working with the attorney general's office in Cayuga, Lewis, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties. Drug trafficking charges have been filed across the state against 104 defendants.
In a separate bust from the Cayuga County-centered rings, Jason Knopp, 29, of Martville, and 15 other defendants are charged with obtaining cocaine in New York City and reselling it in Onondaga and Oswego counties. Knopp faces a felony charge of second-degree conspiracy.
Seventeen individuals were wanted for involvement in the cocaine trafficked from Westchester County.
George Finney Jr., of Elmsford, Westchester County, is accused of selling the cocaine to area residents, Jack VanDeViver, Timothy Jackson and Yates, who then distributed it in Cayuga and Oswego counties. Some suspects are still wanted.
Fifteen individuals were wanted for involvement in the trafficking of cocaine and ecstasy in Cayuga Onondaga and Oswego counties. Brown and Joe Roy Baker are accused of distributing the drugs to co-conspirators. Baker is still wanted along with three others.
Law enforcement celebrated the opportunity to slow down the local drug trade.
Drug activity should be quieter this summer, APD Chief Gary Giannotta predicted. “We had some persistent offenders we picked up today,” he said.
“The successful conclusion to this extremely labor-intensive operation is a relief to all of us in law enforcement,” Sheriff Rob Outhouse said. “We're finally able to reap the fruits of our labor. Our covert operation aimed at zero tolerance is more proof that we can collectively police this area, protecting the public from drug trafficking.”
Arrested Wednesday on drug charges in Cayuga and nearby counties:
€ Alshadeem R. Brown, 29, of 136 VanAnden St., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy; felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (six counts).
€ Charles A. Donato, 28, of 2650 Quick Silver Drive, Fleming: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (two counts).
€ Crystal R. Hames, 23, of 120 Webster. Ave., Syracuse: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
€ Earl J. Heath, 24, of 6170 Lake St., Auburn: Felony fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance; misdemeanor fifth-degree conspiracy.
€ Christopher J. Macknail, 24, of Upper Apt., 145 Wall St., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ Vann M. Macknail, 22, of 16 Orchard St., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ John F. McCandrew, 22, of Apt. A3, 131 Prospect Pointe Apartments, Auburn: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Robert A. Williams, 28, of 145 Olympia Ave., Auburn: Felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ Bruce Wingate, 21, of 8 Wallace Ave., Auburn: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Eric M. Adams, 40, of 1024 Sterling Station Road, Sterling: Felony second-degree conspiracy; misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
€ Julie A. Adams, 34, of 1024 Sterling Station Road, Sterling: Felony second-degree conspiracy; misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
€ George Finney Jr., 34, of 68 Abbott Ave., Elmsford: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Timothy R. Jackson, 37, 14565 Church St., Fair Haven: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felony second-degree conspiracy, misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ David Orbaker, 44, of Mill Street, Hannibal: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Penny L. Parker Lalik, 15056 Route 104, Martville: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Wayne E. Sears, 45, of Main Street, Wolcott: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Sara A. Spencer, 33, of 14637 Fancher Ave., Fair Haven: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Jack VanDeViver, 50, of Sterling Station Road, Fair Haven: felony first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon (four counts); misdemeanor criminal use of drug paraphernalia
€ Terry F. VanDyke, 46, of 551 Wilcox St., Fair Haven: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Jerome L. Yates, 36, of 14637 Fancher Ave., Fair Haven: Felony second-degree conspiracy; felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
€ Devin R. Younglove, 23, of 13646 Kakat Road, Red Creek: Felony second-degree conspiracy.
€ Randy J. Aaserud, 40, of 1863 Dougall Road, Fleming: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts).
€ Shana Barnett, 25, Apt. C4, 120 Riverdale Drive, Syracuse: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (two counts); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts); felony fourth-degree conspiracy.
€ Ronald J. Cahill, 41, of 26 Niagara St., Oswego: Felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Reginald S. Knight, 40, of 404 N. Grandywine Ave., Schenectedy: Felony first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Tommie Martin, 30, of 666 Parsells Ave., Rochester: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (three counts); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (three counts).
€ Jessica McMann, 29, of 6170 Lake St., Cayuga: Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
€ Charles N. Vaughn, 33, of Apt. C4, 120 Riverdale Drive, Syracuse: Felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (two counts); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts); felony second-degree conspiracy.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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