OSWEGO, NY – The Oswego City Police Department is proud to have been an active member in a large-scale investigation spearheaded by the Attorney General’s Office.
| “Unfortunately, when you take someone out, someone else takes their place,” police chief Michael Dehm said. “But, they will be looking over their shoulders. We’re not going to stop here; we’re going to keep on looking. Our administration realizes the affects of what drugs do to a community and we’re not going to stand for it.” |
The Attorney General’s Office held a press conference earlier today (11 a.m. June 26), in Syracuse, in which it released details surrounding an alleged cocaine distribution network that brought drugs from Rochester to Oswego County.
In addition to the multi-agency effort, in which 28 individuals face criminal charges and $35,000 in cocaine was seized, the Oswego City Police Department ran concurrent drug-related investigations, resulting in this morning’s arrest of an additional 11 individuals as follows:
Mandy L. Falise, Age: 28
Address: 502 Buffalo Street Fulton, NY 13069
Charged With: 4 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (D-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Remanded to Oswego County Correctional Facility with No Bail
Next Court Date: July 16.
Heidi E. Thomas, Age: 24
Address: 104 East 9th Street Oswego, NY 13126
Charged with:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (D-Felony)
Arraigned before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own Recognizance
Next Court Date: July 16.
Robin E. Rasbeck, Age: 50
Address: 148 West Lynhurst Ave. Syracuse, NY 13205
Charged With:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (D-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own Recognizance
Next Court Date: July 3 (Town of Minetto Court).
Richard H. Penfield, Age: 48
Address: 326 East 9th Street Oswego, NY 13126
Charged With:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own Recognizance
Next Court Date: July 16.
Alexandria M. Torello, Age: 22
Address: 134 West 3rd Street Oswego, NY 13126
Charged With:
2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (D-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own recognizance
Next Court Date: July 10.
Brenda L. Hewitt, Age: 55
Address: 19 Waterview Road Apt. 16 Oswego, NY 13126
Charged With:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own Recognizance
Next Court Date: July 16.
Kathleen S. Farnsworth, Age: 46
Address: 389 Stock Road Hannibal, NY 13074
Charged With:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own Recognizance
Next Court Date: July 16.
Marcus M. Miller, Age: 25
Address: 53 Hall Road Hannibal, NY 13074
Charged With:
2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (D-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Remanded to Oswego County Correctional Facility with No Bail
Next Court Date: July 1.
Jill M. Shannon, Age: 22
Address: 9 Southwest 9th Street Oswego, NY 13126
Charged With:
2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (B-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Released on Own Recognizance
Next Court Date: July 16.
Robert G. Iles, Age: 50
Address: 7 Mohawk Terrace Oswego, NY 13126
Charged With:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 4th Degree (C-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (D-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Remanded to Oswego County Correctional Facility with No Bail
Next Court Date: July 1.
Norman M. Holliday, Age: 42
Address: 2 Catherine Street Oswego, NY 13126
Charged With:
1 count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (A-Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (B-Felony)
Arraigned Before: Judge Shanley, Remanded to Oswego County Correctional Facility with No Bail
Next Court Date: July 16.
Other arrests may be forthcoming as several defendants are actively being sought.
According to Police Chief Michael J. Dehm Jr. “Devoting officers from our department to the multi-agency investigation, as well as conducting our own independent drug investigations took a toll on our resources. We have been working on our own investigations for many months and in some cases years. Thanks to the support of
Oswego Mayor Randolph Bateman and all of the council members, we were able to focus our resources on an identified problem, in and around the city of Oswego, and make a significant contribution to the fight against drugs and drug related crime.â€ÂÂ
Chief Dehm also wishes to thank all of the involved agencies who participated in this morning’s round-up which was based out of the Oswego Police Department.
“We had an excellent group of law enforcement officers from various local, county and state agencies who all pitched-in, lending us their professionalism and expertise in conducting this extensive operation,†he said.
City police had their own investigation under way since 2006, the chief noted.
Eleven out of the 16 individuals under investigation were arrested, he said.
“Through our investigation, we found out that the Fulton Police Department was doing its own investigation,” he said. “With their information and ours, we contacted the Attorney General’s Office and they most graciously assisted us.”
They also received assistance from other agencies including NY State Police, SUNY Oswego’s University Police, Parole and sheriff’s department.
Their combined efforts have stopped a large distribution coming out of Rochester, the chief said.
“We had seven officers committed to this investigation,” Dehm explained. “I went to the mayor and explained to him what we were looking at. I can’t thank enough the mayor and the Common Council; we had their blessings. We’re a small department, Fulton is the same thing. We’re all small departments, but we know what happens to a community when drugs come into it.”
The arrests will hopefully put a dent in the drug distribution operation locally and slow it down, the chief said.
“Unfortunately, when you take someone out, someone else takes their place,” he added. “But, they will be looking over their shoulders. We’re not going to stop here; we’re going to keep on looking. Our administration realizes the affects of what drugs do to a community and we’re not going to stand for it.”
“As long as there is a demand for (drugs) out there, there are going to be people will sell it and make money,” Mayor Randy Bateman said. “We are also looking at the so-called ‘occasional’ drug user, they’re also part of the problem.”
He praised the efforts of the city police departments, and the other agencies taking part in the investigation.
And, it sends a clear and strong message that the city is willing to commit resources to prevent the flow of drugs into this area, he added.
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At least one of these people live within blocks of two different schools. Watch your kids people. Talk to your kids again and again and again about these type of people.
Awesome job by the agencies involved. Drugs do nothing but bring people down.
law enforcement did an excellent job, its a good start, now lets see if the DA and the judges can do the same!