AG’s Investigation Seizes Over 4.5 Kilos of Cocaine Worth $450,000 That was Trafficked from Brooklyn to Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties
NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the takedown of a major cocaine trafficking operation in the Capital Region responsible for selling large quantities of powder and crack cocaine, as well as fentanyl and heroin.
An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General charged 21 individuals with 222 crimes for their roles in the operation, which sourced the narcotics from New York City and sold them in Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties. The investigation led to the recovery of more than 4.5 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of approximately $450,000.
The multi-agency investigation brought together the resources of state and local law enforcement agencies led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), including the New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
The year-long investigation included covert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps over ten separate target phones, aimed at rooting out narcotics traffickers operating throughout the Capital Region and elsewhere in New York state.
“These individuals operated a wide network of buyers and distributors who moved deadly narcotics across our state and sold them in vast quantities. Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of our partners in this investigation, we took nearly half a million dollars’ worth of drugs off the streets and are putting this operation out of business. I will continue to take down drug trafficking rings that threaten New Yorkers’ safety.” said Attorney General James in a statement.
The investigation centered on the activities of Heather Thompson, of Troy, who allegedly purchased cocaine by the kilo to distribute to her network of dealers throughout Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties. The investigation revealed Thompson primarily conducted business in Saratoga County, making sales at a local pub and bowling alley, police said, and revealed that the defendants used codewords to communicate about the narcotics they were buying and selling, referring to crack cocaine as “hard” or “done,” powder cocaine as “soft” or “undone,” and heroin as “dog food.”
Thompson’s primary clients included Alexander Bayne, who is suspected of selling powder and crack cocaine out of his home in South Glens Falls, and later out of his home in Hudson Falls. Others also sold powder and crack cocaine at public locations like gas stations and restaurants in the Glens Falls and South Glens Falls areas, according to authorities.
“This case is a fantastic example of law enforcement agencies working together to root out criminals in our communities,” said Saratoga County Undersheriff Jeff Brown in a statement. “I’m proud of the work of our Narcotics Unit and the Criminal Investigation Unit members and the other law enforcement professionals to bring these individuals to justice. Working with Attorney General James and our local, state, and federal partners, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office will continue to invest in combatting illegal narcotics trafficking in Saratoga County.”
The indictment, which was unsealed Oct. 1 in Saratoga County Court, contains 222 counts, charging the defendants with crimes related to their involvement in the narcotics trafficking operation, including various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, C, D felonies) as well as Conspiracy in the Second Degree (class B felony).
Those charged in today’s indictment include: Alexander Bayne, South Glens Falls/Hudson Falls, NY – 35 years old; Conrad Bayne, South Glens Falls, NY – 59 years old; Zachary Bessette, North Creek, NY – 33 years old; Kevin Cooper, Glens Falls, NY – 38 years old; Trevor Harris, South Glens Falls, NY – 35 years old; Ronnie Luna, Glens Falls, NY – 42 years old; Lindsey Mattison, West Rupert, VT – 34 years old; Ryan Megna, Glens Falls, NY – 42 years old; Jermaine Moreno, Brooklyn, NY – 48 years old; Jack Moulton, South Glens Falls, NY – 35 years old; Cassidy O’Connell, Glens Falls, NY – 30 years old; Wesley Reed, Jr., Troy, NY – 59 years old; Wesley Reed, III, Troy, NY – 38 years old; Christine Sondermeyer, Glens Falls, NY – 53 years old; Melissa Stearns, Hudson Falls, NY – 38 years old; Lonsdale Stuffle, Glens Falls, NY – 30 years old; Mackenzie Sumner, Glens Falls, NY – 37 years old; Heather Thompson, Troy, NY – 38 years old; Jackson Tucker, Troy, NY – 43 years old; Christopher Wern, Glens Falls, NY – 41 years old; Walter Winchell, Glens Falls, NY – 49 years old.
In addition to the partners in the investigation, Attorney General James would like to thank Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen and Town of Wilton Supervisor John Lant for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Senior Counsel Michael Sharpe.
