New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced the convictions of 25 individuals involved in a drug trafficking operation in the Capital Region. The investigation, led by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), resulted in the seizure of over three kilograms of cocaine and approximately 40 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, valued at around $350,000. Authorities also confiscated four handguns, two large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and more than $50,000 in cash.
Attorney General James stated, "We are committed to ending the opioid crisis in our state, and that means addressing this problem from every angle, including stopping dangerous drug traffickers who bring fentanyl into our communities." She added that the drug trafficking ring was responsible for distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of narcotics.
The OAG's investigation focused on key figures such as Alexander Torres and Yamillet Galarza. They were pivotal in obtaining and selling drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine across Rensselaer County. Torres sourced his cocaine from four different suppliers and branded his heroin with "American Gangster" to distinguish it from other sellers.
Efrain Acevado was another significant distributor within this network. He operated a restaurant named "El Coqui" in Troy as a front for selling narcotics and storing related proceeds.
The year-long investigation concluded with covert surveillance operations involving wiretaps on over two dozen phones. The collaborative effort included multiple law enforcement agencies such as New York State Police and City of Troy Police Department.
Among those sentenced is Elvis Colon, known as "Minino," who received 12½ to 15 years for conspiracy and criminal sale charges. Other defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges ranging from possession to sale of controlled substances.
Attorney General James expressed gratitude towards partners like Rensselaer District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly for their assistance throughout the investigation.
The case was managed by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Andrew McElwee under supervision from OCTF Upstate Deputy Bureau Chief Maria Moran. The Investigations Division was led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes while both divisions are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.