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Marijuana

County Commissioner In PA Accused Of Setting Up NY Drug Deals During Meetings: Court Docs County Commissioner In PA Accused Of Setting Up NY Drug Deals During Meetings: Court Docs
County Commissioner In PA Accused Of Setting Up NY Drug Deals During Meetings: Court Docs A Lehigh County commissioner accused in a sweeping drug investigation tied to multiple states was arranging deals through text messages — including during meetings and while at City Hall, prosecutors revealed in newly released court documents. Zachary Cole-Borghi, who was serving as a Lehigh County commissioner at the time of the alleged crimes, is now facing more than 100 charges tied to a years-long drug probe spanning Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and Wisconsin, District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced Wednesday, March 25. Cole-Borghi was among 22 people charged in the large-scal…
Penn State Grad, Real Estate Agent Among 14 Caught In PA Prostitution Sting Penn State Grad, Real Estate Agent Among 14 Caught In PA Prostitution Sting
Penn State Grad, Real Estate Agent Among 14 Caught In PA Prostitution Sting A Penn State graduate and a local real estate agent are among 14 men arrested in a human trafficking sting in Cumberland County, authorities announced on Monday, Aug. 25. The arrests were made during Operation Impact Demand XII, which was conducted on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at a hotel in East Pennsboro Township, according to a release by the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office. The operation was led by the Cumberland County Human Trafficking Task Force in coordination with the East Pennsboro and Silver Spring Township Police Departments. The following men allegedly solicited female es…
National Guard Soldier Caught Smuggling Drugs, Phones Into NY Prison, Police Say National Guard Soldier Caught Smuggling Drugs, Phones Into NY Prison, Police Say
National Guard Soldier Caught Smuggling Drugs, Phones Into NY Prison, Police Say A New York Army National Guard member is facing felony charges after being caught smuggling marijuana and cell phones into a state prison, police said. Troopers responded to Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County on Friday, Aug. 1, after the state prison system’s Office of Special Investigations (OSI) requested assistance, according to New York State Police. Savian Maxwell, 30, of Brooklyn, was taken into custody after a DOCCS K9 detected contraband on both himself and his vehicle during a security check, police said. Investigators recovered approximately 176 grams of marijuana and f…
NY Mom Killed On Way To Hobby Lobby: Impaired Driver Now Facing Years In Prison NY Mom Killed On Way To Hobby Lobby: Impaired Driver Now Facing Years In Prison
NY Mom Killed On Way To Hobby Lobby: Impaired Driver Now Facing Years In Prison A Georgia woman will spend up to 10 years behind bars for causing a high-speed crash that killed a Long Island mother and injured another person. Rachel Lodice, 22, formerly of Jericho, was sentenced on Monday, July 21, in Nassau County Court after pleading guilty to a slew of charges stemming from the April 2024 crash that killed 64-year-old Cynthia Mitchell. Lodice, who had recently moved to Georgia from Jericho, was high on marijuana when she got behind the wheel of her 2023 Kia Rio and sped more than six miles down Hicksville Road in Massapequa — at times swerving into oncoming traffic,…
MS-13's 'Creeper' Admits Role In Machete Murders Of 15-Year-Old, Second Victim In NY MS-13's 'Creeper' Admits Role In Machete Murders Of 15-Year-Old, Second Victim In NY
MS-13's 'Creeper' Admits Role In Machete Murders Of 15-Year-Old, Second Victim In NY A Long Island MS-13 gang member formally confessed to taking part in the gruesome killings of two young victims, nearly a decade after their deaths. Kevin Del Cid, 25, of Freeport, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, July 16, in connection with the 2016 machete killings of 20-year-old Kerin Pineda and 15-year-old Javier Castillo. Del Cid – also known by the alias “Creeper” – was a member of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside clique of the MS-13 gang at the time. He also pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Tw…
Marijuana Birthday Cake Found With NY Dad, Infant Daughter, Teen Son In Car On PA Road: DA Marijuana Birthday Cake Found With NY Dad, Infant Daughter, Teen Son In Car On PA Road: DA
Marijuana Birthday Cake Found With NY Dad, Infant Daughter, Teen Son In Car On PA Road: DA A marijuana-laced birthday cake with a man’s name on it — and two children in the car — has landed a New York father on probation in Pennsylvania, officials said. Rylan Matthew Manuel LaForest, 22, of Lockwood, New York, was sentenced to 24 months of probation for Corruption of Minors, Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson announced on Sunday, July 6. The charges followed a November 2024 investigation by Athens Township Police Officer Thomas J. VanFleet Jr., who found LaForest parked with his 21-month-old daughter and a 14-year-old boy. Inside the vehicle, police discovered mari…
Admitted Child Rapist Who Repeatedly Abused Schenectady 14-Year-Old Sentenced To Prison Admitted Child Rapist Who Repeatedly Abused Schenectady 14-Year-Old Sentenced To Prison
Admitted Child Rapist Who Repeatedly Abused Schenectady 14-Year-Old Sentenced To Prison A Schenectady man will spend years in prison after admitting he sexually abused a teenage girl over a period of several days. Michael Taylor, 43, was sentenced to six years behind bars in Schenectady County Court on Thursday, July 01, after pleading guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl. Taylor confessed to enticing the victim, who was known to him, to stay at his apartment by giving her marijuana and a cell phone, according to the Schenectady County DA’s office. Over the course of a week, he committed multiple sexual acts against the girl, prosecutors said. As part of the sentence, a Sche…
Teen Admits Being High During Rollover Crash That Killed 15-Year-Old NY Girl Teen Admits Being High During Rollover Crash That Killed 15-Year-Old NY Girl
Teen Admits Being High During Rollover Crash That Killed 15-Year-Old NY Girl A New York teen admitted he was high on marijuana and speeding when he flipped his car, killing a 15-year-old girl and seriously injuring her brother. Everett Hatlee, 18, of Troy, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in Saratoga County Court on Friday, June 13, in the death of 15-year-old Kiera Ebert. Hatlee admitted he was traveling at an “incredibly high rate of speed” on the evening of June 29, 2024, while impaired by cannabis when he lost control of his vehicle on Fonda Road in Waterford, according to the district attorney’s office. His Dodge Charger left the road, became a…
Jamaican Citizen Behind Fatal Robbery That Killed Poughkeepsie Victim Learns Fate: Feds Jamaican Citizen Behind Fatal Robbery That Killed Poughkeepsie Victim Learns Fate: Feds
Jamaican Citizen Behind Fatal Robbery That Killed Poughkeepsie Victim Learns Fate: Feds A man who illegally returned to the US after deportation will spend decades in prison for leading a violent robbery crew whose final act ended in the fatal shooting of a Hudson Valley resident, federal prosecutors said.  Marcus Ricketts, 48, a Jamaican national, was sentenced on Thursday, May 15, in Brooklyn federal court to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to causing death through the use of a firearm, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced.  The sentencing follows a series of armed robberies committed across New York City, including a dea…
Woman Hid Marijuana On Child's Back To Smuggle It Into Dutchess County Prison: Police Woman Hid Marijuana On Child's Back To Smuggle It Into Dutchess County Prison: Police
Woman Hid Marijuana On Child's Back To Smuggle It Into Dutchess County Prison: Police A Texas woman is facing charges in the Hudson Valley after allegedly using her child to smuggle marijuana into a New York state prison, police said.  Christina C. Miranda, 24, of Weslaco, Texas, was arrested on Saturday, May 24, after she was caught allegedly bringing approximately 63 grams of marijuana into Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York State Police announced on Tuesday, May 27.  Authorities say Miranda hid the marijuana on her child’s back during a visit to the facility. Troopers responded to the prison after receiving a report that a visitor may have br…
Student’s Fentanyl-Laced Vape Scare Prompts Urgent Warning From Area School District Student’s Fentanyl-Laced Vape Scare Prompts Urgent Warning From Area School District
Student’s Fentanyl-Laced Vape Scare Prompts Urgent Warning From Area School District A frightening incident at a New York school has prompted a stern warning from educators about the dangers of black-market marijuana products. In a letter sent to parents on Monday, May 19, the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District detailed a recent case in central New York where a student collapsed on campus after taking a single puff from a marijuana vape. The vape, which was later tested, came back positive for fentanyl—a powerful synthetic opioid, Superintendent Randy Squie said. The student was administered multiple doses of Narcan, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid ove…
200+ Pounds Of Marijuana Worth $875K Seized At Baltimore Port, Bound For Belgium: CBP 200+ Pounds Of Marijuana Worth $875K Seized At Baltimore Port, Bound For Belgium: CBP
200+ Pounds Of Marijuana Worth $875K Seized At Baltimore Port, Bound For Belgium: CBP A massive shipment of marijuana — more than 200 pounds — was intercepted at a Baltimore air cargo facility before it could make its way to Belgium, federal officials announced. According to US Customs and Border Protection, officers discovered 155 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana during an inspection of air cargo manifested as “brace overalls for men / heavy duty workwear bib.” The weed was seized at the airport. US Customs and Border Protection Instead, officers found 91.3 kilograms — or 201 pounds and five ounces — of high-quality marijuana. The load had an estimated stree…
Woman Smuggles Marijuana, Tobacco Into Prison In Dutchess County: NYSP Woman Smuggles Marijuana, Tobacco Into Prison In Dutchess County: NYSP
Woman Smuggles Marijuana, Tobacco Into Prison In Dutchess County: Nysp A 29-year-old woman is facing charges after allegedly bringing drugs into Fishkill Correctional Facility in Dutchess County, state police said.  Bronx resident Christine H. Price, age 29, was arrested on Saturday, March 29, after troopers responded to a report of a visitor smuggling items into the facility, which is located in Beacon, New York State Police announced on Monday, March 31. Following an investigation, authorities determined that Price had allegedly introduced approximately 22 grams of marijuana and 4 grams of tobacco into the prison.  She was charged with second-degr…
67 Pounds Of Weed Seized During Firearm Trafficking Bust At JFK: DA 67 Pounds Of Weed Seized During Firearm Trafficking Bust At JFK: DA
67 Pounds Of Weed Seized During Firearm Trafficking Bust At JFK: DA A man accused of fueling gun violence through illegal firearm sales was caught smuggling 67 pounds of marijuana at JFK Airport, authorities announced on Monday, March 17. Ian Diaz-Reales, 27, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was arrested on March 2 while attempting to board an outbound flight with the massive drug stash, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office. Diaz-Reales had already been wanted for allegedly purchasing multiple firearms and illegally funneling them to criminals involved in drug trafficking, gang activity, and violence, authorities said. The Berks County Gun Viol…
Registered NY Sex Offender ID'd As Man Who Sexually Assaulted Teen In NJ, Police Paperwork Says Registered NY Sex Offender ID'd As Man Who Sexually Assaulted Teen In NJ, Police Paperwork Says
Registered NY Sex Offender ID'd As Man Who Sexually Assaulted Teen In NJ, Police Paperwork Says The Fort Lee man charged with sexually assaulting a missing New York City girl has been identified as a registered sex offender. In 2017, Marc Piovanetti was convicted of rape of a child under 15 years old, criminal sex act on a victim incapable of consent/mentally disabled, and sexual performance by child under 16/access to view, records show (see below). Marc Piovanetti charges/convictions NY Sex Offender Registry This month, 58-year-old Piovanetti was arrested again. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Piovanetti was talking to a girl between 13 and 16 years old on s…
Drug Trafficker In Region Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say Drug Trafficker In Region Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say
Drug Trafficker In Region Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say A drug dealer/trafficker from the region was allegedly busted with three kilos of cocaine and other drugs along with cash following a two-month investigation. Sullivan County resident Raheen Meredith, age 50, of Thompson, was charged on Friday, Oct. 25. According to Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Narcotics Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant in conjunction with “Operation Hard Rock,” a two-month-long investigation into wholesale cocaine distribution in Sullivan County.  Meredith was captured during a tr…
8 Pounds Of Meth Seized In Traffic Stop In Region; Man Busted After Chase 8 Pounds Of Meth Seized In Traffic Stop In Region; Man Busted After Chase
8 Pounds Of Meth Seized In Traffic Stop In Region; Man Busted After Chase Police say a man from the region attempted to escape after they found eight pounds of methamphetamines during a traffic stop earlier this week, but he didn't make it very far.  Rensselaer County resident Terrence Ravenell, age 28, of Troy, was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 20, and charged with multiple felonies, Troy police said.  Police were called to an area on Lincoln Avenue to reports of suspicious activity on Tuesday night. They found Ravenell in a parked car near the intersection with Seward Street. Police found drugs during an interview, and Ravenell ran away. Troy office…
Teen Driver Smoked Marijuana Before Capital Region Crash Killing 14-Year-Old, Police Say Teen Driver Smoked Marijuana Before Capital Region Crash Killing 14-Year-Old, Police Say
Teen Driver Smoked Marijuana Before Capital Region Crash Killing 14-Year-Old, Police Say An 18-year-old man is facing vehicular manslaughter charges in connection with an alleged DWI crash in the region that killed a 14-year-old girl. The Saratoga County incident happened at around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, June 29, in the town of Waterford. Police said Everhett Hatlee, of Troy, was driving a Dodge Charger on Fonda Road when he lost control and rolled his vehicle near White Street.  The crash killed 14-year-old Kiera Ebert and seriously injured her 16-year-old brother. Both teens were passengers in the vehicle. An investigation found that Hatlee was impaired by marijuana at th…
Hudson Valley Smoke Shop Raids Net 4 Felony Arrests Hudson Valley Smoke Shop Raids Net 4 Felony Arrests
Hudson Valley Smoke Shop Raids Net 4 Felony Arrests Following a months-long investigation, four people and five corporations were busted for allegedly illegally selling marijuana and criminal tax fraud. Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced Friday, June 21, the busts after raids of seven smoke shops in Rockland County. According to Scott Waters, spokesman for the Rockland County District Attorney's Office, the investigations began in March with help from Homeland Security, local police, and other state agencies. The warrants were executed at two smoke shops in Clarkstown, two in Orangetown, and one in the …
Hudson Valley Man Admits Driving High, Causing Crash That Paralyzed Teen Hudson Valley Man Admits Driving High, Causing Crash That Paralyzed Teen
Hudson Valley Man Admits Driving High, Causing Crash That Paralyzed Teen A Hudson Valley man is facing three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to driving high on pot and causing a crash that paralyzed a teen. Orange County resident Chauncey Smith, age 22, of Pine Bush, admitted his guilt on Monday, May 6, for causing the Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 crash, said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler. As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on Aug. 14, 2023, Smith was driving westbound on Route 17K in Newburgh when his car crossed the double yellow line and collided head-on with another vehicle. As a result of the crash, a 15-y…
Shenanigans, Indeed: Manager At Capital Region Gentleman's Club Busted Selling Meth, Feds Say Shenanigans, Indeed: Manager At Capital Region Gentleman's Club Busted Selling Meth, Feds Say
Shenanigans, Indeed: Manager At Capital Region Gentleman's Club Busted Selling Meth, Feds Say The general manager of a gentleman’s club in the region is facing federal charges after he was allegedly busted in an undercover sting selling drugs. Luiggi Canessa, who manages Shenanigans gentlemen's club in Schenectady, is named in a complaint filed in US District Court in the Northern District on Tuesday, April 9. FBI agents began investigating a “wide array of crime” occurring at the club, as well as an adjoining business, Sheer Pleasure Lingerie, in late 2023, according to the complaint. That conduct allegedly included drug and sex trafficking, and wire fraud. Canessa, who manages…
Armed Robbery: Correction Officer, Man From Westchester Break Into Home, Feds Say Armed Robbery: Correction Officer, Man From Westchester Break Into Home, Feds Say
Armed Robbery: Correction Officer, Man From Westchester Break Into Home, Feds Say A duo from Westchester, including a correction officer, face charges after breaking into a Hudson Valley home, restraining the occupants inside, and stealing cash and marijuana, federal officials said. Mount Vernon residents Recaldo Fray and Kaheem Palmer, both age 31, have been charged in connection with an Orange County armed robbery that happened in Newburgh in early December 2023, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Wednesday, Jan. 24.  According to federal officials, on Monday, Dec. 4, Palmer and Fray, a correction officer at …
Pot Shop Employee Busted Selling To Hudson Valley Minors, Police Say Pot Shop Employee Busted Selling To Hudson Valley Minors, Police Say
Pot Shop Employee Busted Selling To Hudson Valley Minors, Police Say A Hudson Valley pot shop employee was busted for allegedly selling marijuana to minors during an investigation by a drug task force. Vikasreddy Sumreddy, age 25, from the City of Poughkeepsie, was arrested in Dutchess County in the town of East Fishkill on Tuesday, Sept. 26. He was charged with three counts of criminal sale of cannabis, said Det. Lt. Adam Harris of the Dutchess County Drug Task Force. Additional charges may be pending, Harris said. During the month of September, the task force conducted an investigation into cannabis dealers in East Fishkill after receiving complaints…
Traffic Stop In Region Leads To Drug Bust, 3 Arrested, State Police Say Traffic Stop In Region Leads To Drug Bust, 3 Arrested, State Police Say
Traffic Stop In Region Leads To Drug Bust, 3 Arrested, State Police Say Two men and a juvenile were charged with possession of a controlled substance after state police found more than three pounds of marijuana and cocaine during a traffic stop. The bust took place in Sullivan County around 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 31 in the town of Liberty during a stop for traffic violations. According to Trooper Steven Nevel, during the stop, the driver of a 2006 Honda Accord, identified as Nicholas P. Macnaughton, age 22 from Syracuse, told troopers he had more than a pound of marijuana in the trunk of the car. Also in the vehicle were the front seat passenger and owner…
Hudson Valley Shop Raided For Selling Cannabis To Minors, Police Say Hudson Valley Shop Raided For Selling Cannabis To Minors, Police Say
Hudson Valley Shop Raided For Selling Cannabis To Minors, Police Say Two people are facing charges after a raid of a Hudson Valley business that police say was selling cannabis to minors. Over the last several weeks in Rockland County, the Suffern Police Department said it began receiving information regarding a specific “smoke shop” in the downtown business area that was engaged in selling marijuana to juveniles.  The Suffern PD’s detective bureau initiated an investigation and said it confirmed the information that had been provided.  In conjunction with the Rockland County Intelligence Unit and the Rockland County Society for the Preventio…
Update: These Westchester Smoke Shops Sold Illegal Products, Kept Them In Secret Compartments Update: These Westchester Smoke Shops Sold Illegal Products, Kept Them In Secret Compartments
Update: These Westchester Smoke Shops Sold Illegal Products, Kept Them In Secret Compartments Police have released which smoke shops in Westchester County were caught illegally selling products to underage people, as well as selling banned products, after a month-long investigation.  Earlier Report - Smoke Shops In Greenburgh Nabbed For Selling Pot, Banned Products To Minors: Police The investigation, which started in October 2022, targeted multiple smoke shops that were suspected of selling "vape, tobacco and THC products" to people under 21, as well as selling and possessing untaxed cigarettes, marijuana, and banned synthetic cannabinoids products, according to Gree…
Westchester Convenience Store In Trouble For Selling Illegal Marijuana Products, Police Say Westchester Convenience Store In Trouble For Selling Illegal Marijuana Products, Police Say
Westchester Convenience Store In Trouble For Selling Illegal Marijuana Products, Police Say A convenience store in Westchester County is facing legal trouble for selling "dangerous and illegal products," police said.  The Mamaroneck Convenience Store, located at 311 Mamaroneck Ave., has been summonsed for selling products containing THC and CBD, according to an announcement by Mamaroneck Village Police from Saturday, Nov. 5.  Police began investigating the store after hearing complaints from parents, business owners, and community members that illegal products were being sold to young teenagers, authorities said.  The illegal products sold included:  Marijua…
Biden To Pardon Everyone Convicted On Federal Marijuana Possession Charges In Historic Move Biden To Pardon Everyone Convicted On Federal Marijuana Possession Charges In Historic Move
Biden To Pardon Everyone Convicted On Federal Marijuana Possession Charges In Historic Move In a historic move, President Joe Biden announced he is pardoning all of those with prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana.  The White House announced the marijuana reform on Thursday, Oct. 6 during Biden's visit to the Hudson Valley at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, saying he has directed Attorney General Merrick Garland to develop an administrative process to issue certificates of pardon to individuals who are eligible. Biden said thousands of people with federal convictions for marijuana possession have had their lives upended.  "Criminal records for m…
Three Elementary School Students In Westchester Hospitalized After Eating Edible Marijuana Three Elementary School Students In Westchester Hospitalized After Eating Edible Marijuana
Three Elementary School Students In Westchester Hospitalized After Eating Edible Marijuana Three elementary school students in Westchester were taken to the hospital after eating edible marijuana. The incident took place on Tuesday, April 5, in Yonkers when a student at the Patricia DiChiaro Elementary School brought what he thought was chocolate to school and shared it with two classmates, said Det. Lt. Dean Politopoulos, of the Yonkers Police. The chocolate turned out to edible marijuana and the three students, ages 12 and 13, who ate the chocolate became sick, Politopoulos said. The teacher saw that something was wrong and brought it to the attention of the principal, he…
Westchester Teen Stabbed During Dispute Over Pot, Police Say Westchester Teen Stabbed During Dispute Over Pot, Police Say
Westchester Teen Stabbed During Dispute Over Pot, Police Say A Westchester teen was hospitalized during a dispute after refusing to hand over his marijuana to strangers, according to police. A 19-year-old New Rochelle resident - whose name has not been released by investigators - was stabbed in the head in New York City inside Washington Square Park at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday, March 18, police said. The teen was in the park smoking near the fountain area when two men approached him, asking for the weed, police said. When he refused, one of them took out a knife and cut him on the left side of his head. The two men, believed to be in their …
Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide In Hudson Valley Crash Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide In Hudson Valley Crash
Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide In Hudson Valley Crash A Long Island man has admitted to vehicular homicide in connection with a crash in the Hudson Valley that killed one. Nassau County resident Ebraheem Chowdhury, age 24, of Elmont, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to one count of vehicular manslaughter in connection to an August 2020 car crash that killed a passenger while the defendant was driving impaired by alcohol and marijuana, said the Orange County District Attorney's Office. According to the District Attorney's Office, on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, Chowdhury was impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and marijuana when he …