Press Release Meth 6-12-12

7/31/2019 Press Release Meth 6-12-12

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United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian

Northern District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Carl G. Eurenius

June 12, 2012 John G. Duncanhttp://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nyn (315) 448-0672

TWO DOZEN CENTRAL NEW YORK INDIVIDUALS INDICTED FOR POSSESSING

PSEUDOEPHEDRINE TO MANUFACTURE METHAMPHETAMINE

Local, State, and Federal agents seek twenty four individuals from Madison,

Oneida, and Oswego Counties in early morning raid.

[SYRACUSE, NEW YORK]Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the

Northern District of New York,Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New

York Office of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and New York State PoliceSuperintendent Joseph DAmico announce the indictments of 24 individuals in connection with a

major methamphetamine manufacture and distribution investigation and initiative centered in

Madison, Oneida, and Oswego Counties. Those indicted represent some of the largest area

manufacturers, distributors, and users of the illegal drug methamphetamine in Central New York.

As purchasers of pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in the production of

methamphetamine, those indicted personally purchased thousands of pseudoephedrine pills over the

last two to three years, and received thousands of pills from individuals, known as smurfs, who

bought the pills to trade for the finished product, methamphetamine, with the meth cooks.

The year long drug investigation that resulted in todays arrests was the result of an effectivecollaboration of the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York State Police, and law enforcement

agencies in Madison, Oneida, and Oswego Counties. For years, state and local law enforcement

have devoted tremendous resources and time to identifying and investigating methamphetamine

manufacturing and use, only to discover that there is little or no methamphetamine left when the

arrests are made.

This new approach combines the excellent work being done by law enforcement to

investigate these crimes with a powerful federal tool for prosecution that makes it a federal felony

to possess or distribute pseudoephedrine with the knowledge that it will be used to illegally

manufacture methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(c)(2).

Each of the 24 individuals whose indictments are announced today, and who are listed below, havebeen charged in a separate indictment alleging one count of this offense.

This joint investigation involved special agents and officers of the DEA Syracuse Resident

Office, the City of Oneida Police Department, the New York State Police, the Canastota Police

Department, the Oneida Indian Nation Police, the Madison County Sheriffs Office, and the District

Attorney's Offices of Oneida, Oswego, and Madison Counties. Also assisting in this investigation

were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshals

Service. The prosecutions are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Carl Eurenius.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nynhttp://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nyn


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New York State Police Superintendent Joseph DAmico stated "I'd like to recognize the

impressive investigative efforts of our federal, state, county and local law enforcement partners

involved with this case. Today's indictments and arrests are the result of a tremendous amount of

intelligence, investigative and analytical work. These efforts, along with the support of the U.S.

Attorney's Office, will ultimately rid the community of methamphetamine and its associateddangers."

DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Wilbert L. Plummer stated, "Clandestine

methamphetamine labs have surfaced again. In this case, it was through concerted efforts from the

DEA, local and state law enforcement to identify those violating the laws and purchasing ephedrine

and pseudoephedrine to produce meth for their own use or for distribution. Meth abuse is a serious

problem that we are addressing throughout the state of New York and it is law enforcement's

responsibility to enforce the laws while working with our educators, treatment and prevention

partners to send the message to our community about the dangers of abusing this drug as well as all

others."

Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley stated The combined efforts put forward by local

police departments, sheriffs offices, NYSP and federal agencies is a sign of how seriously we take

the problem of meth labs. We have seen a growing number of meth lab dumps across the county. The

dangers of manufacturing meth and the disposal of the items used to manufacture creates a grave risk

for any citizen that comes in contact with it. This raid today will hopefully send a clear message that

law enforcement in Madison County will be making this a top priority.

Those charged with possessing or distributing pseudoephedrine with the knowledge that it

will be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine include the following:

Defendant Age City of Residence

From MadisonCounty:

(1) THOMAS M. LAPLANTE 45 Durhamville

(2) * THERESA M. PERSON 49 Durhamville

(3) TRACY L. JENNISON 39 Chittenango

(4) THERESA A. STROBECK 30 Blossvale

(5) FRANK A. PENNISI 47 Oneida

(6) * TODD C. COLEMAN 42 Blossvale

(7) LEONARD SETH SPADTER 32 Canastota

(8) MEAGAN N. STIMPSON 24 In state custody(9) RONALD E. McEATHRON 36 In state custody

(10) JOSHUA A. DRUMMOND 24 In state custody

(11) CASEY L. SPADTER 29 In federal custody

From Oneida County

(12) KENNETH W. McGUINNESS 33 Florence

(13) TERRY L. ROSS 51 Florence

(14) LAURIE (FULLER) BURDICK 42 Florence

(15) WANDA KINGSLEY 47 Florence

(16) JESSEE L, STEVENS 24 Annsville


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(17) ADAM P. WILSON 32 Florence

From Oswego County

(18) * CY RAYDER 28 Williamstown

(19) ANDREW A. RAYDER 23 Richland

(20) STEPHANIE (HOLT) OSTRANDER 32 Mexico(21) TIMOTHY S. PECK 34 Fulton

(22) LAURIE GERVAIS 47 Parish

(23) ANTHONY R. BATTLES 23 Parish

(24) WILLIAM J. CORCORAN 35 In state custody

* Still At Large

As of late this morning, 16 of the 24 defendants have been arrested by law enforcement

authorities and will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter. If convicted,

they each face a term of imprisonment of up to twenty (20) years and a fine of up to $250,000. In

addition to the drug charge, defendant CASEY SPADTER is also charged with being a felon inpossession of a firearm, which carries a penalty of up to ten (10) years imprisonment and a fine of

up to $250,000.

The indictment is a mere accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and

until proven guilty.

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Press Release Meth 6-12-12