Utica, N.Y. - Law enforcement agencies have made a sizeable drug bust in Utica, Whitesboro and Yorkville.
For over 18 months, members of the New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET), Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Utica Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Dept. of Homeland Security, and other local law enforcement agencies have been investigating violations of federal criminal laws prohibiting the distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine within the City of Utica and surrounding areas.
More than 20 search warrants were executed resulting in the arrest of 9 people. Investigators seized 3 ounces of Heroin, 5 ounces of Fentanyl, more than 2 pounds of Cocaine and some Crystal Meth. They also found, 6 handguns, 2 shotguns, and AR-15, a 9mm UZI with extended magazines, $20,000 dollars in cash, about $100,000 in gold jewelry and 18 high end vehicles including BMWs, Lexus and Jaguars.
The following people were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges:
- Ivan Rodriguez, age 46 from Yorkville, NY
- Ivan Rodriguez Jr.,age 26 from Utica, NY
- Jose Aponte, age 21 from Utica, NY
- Angel Calderon-Ortiz, age 21 from Utica, NY
- Bernabe Lopez, age 56 from Whitesboro, NY
- Eric Ares, age 36 from Utica, NY
- Edgar Tejada, age 34 from Utica, NY
Also, Andrew Relf and Radi Fairman both age 34 from Whitesboro, NY were arrested on an outstanding Oneida County Court warrants for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rddegree.
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