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Dozens of defendants from around St. Lawrence County take pleas in Operation Gravy Train drug cases

Posted 9/15/17

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced 55 guilty pleas resulting from Operation Gravy Train, which busted two major drug distribution networks that transported heroin, fentanyl, and …

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Dozens of defendants from around St. Lawrence County take pleas in Operation Gravy Train drug cases

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Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced 55 guilty pleas resulting from Operation Gravy Train, which busted two major drug distribution networks that transported heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine to St. Lawrence County, said a press release from the AG’s office.

Operation Gravy Train resulted in 106 arrests and the seizure of 2,600 bags of heroin, 700 bags of cocaine and 3,005 bags of fentanyl.

The combined street value of the drugs was estimated at $94,575 by police, who also recovered $89,000 in cash.

The vast majority of arrests took place in Massena and Ogdensburg, but suspects were also taken into custody in surrounding towns.

Additionally, investigators seized bulk quantities of narcotics, including more than a kilo of cocaine, more than a quarter-pound of fentanyl, and more than three ounces of heroin, as well as approximately $89,000 in cash, three handguns, two stun guns, a dagger, a shotgun, and a bullet proof vest stolen from a Tompkins County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Operation Gravy Train was spearheaded by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force through the office’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (“S.U.R.G.E.”) Initiative.

On Thursday and Friday, several Gravy Train defendants pleaded guilty in front of Judge Jerome Richards in St. Lawrence County Court.

The sentencing details of the defendants, according to Schneiderman, are:

Rasue Barnett: Will be sentenced on Oct. 19 to three-and-a-half years in prison

Michael Berry: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to eight years in prison and five years post-release supervision

Francis Burdick: Will be sentenced on Nov. 3 to five years in prison and five years post-release supervision

Raul Byrd: Sentenced on Sept. 14 to four years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Dandre Gatson: Will be sentenced on Jan. 11, 2018 to four to eight years in prison

Jason Henriques: Will be sentenced on Nov. 3 to one-and-one-half to three years, to run consecutive with an additional one-and-one-half to three years.

Jared Johnston: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to one to three years in prison

Christopher Kocienski: Will be sentenced on Oct. 20 to five years in prison and two years post-release supervision

Christopher Larose: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to four years in prison and two years post-release supervision

Kevin Lockenwitz: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to three years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Gary Lee Loffler: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to five years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Jose Marte: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to six years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Jonathan Martinez-Caballero: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to six years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Matthew McGrath: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to three-and-one-half years in prison and two years post-release supervision

Travis O’Neill: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to eight years in prison and five years post-release supervision

Allen Oshier: Will be sentenced on Nov. 3 to three years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Darren St. Germain: Sentenced on Sept. 15 to one-and-one-half years in prison and two years post-release supervision

Joshua Seidel: Sentenced on Sept. 7 to one-and-one-half years in prison and one year post-release supervision

Lydell Washington: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to two to four years in prison

Justin Whitmarsh: Sentenced on Sept. 7 to three years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Jessie Young: Sentenced on Sept. 7 to three years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Heather Amarel: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to six months to one year in jail

Sarah Ashley: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to one year in prison and one year post-release supervision

Jennifer Kerr: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to five years’ probation

Robert Kerwin: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to five years’ probation

Caisey Jo Lamotte: Will be sentenced on Nov. 3 to one year in jail

Bobbie Jo LaRock: Sentenced on Sept. 15 to five years’ probation

Jennifer Larue: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to five years’ probation

Kimberly Larue: Will be sentenced on Aug. 31, 2018 to five years’ probation

Tyler McGregor: Sentenced on Sept. 14 to five years’ probation

Mariano Patterson: Sentenced on Sept. 15 to two years in prison and two years post-release supervision

Shane Perkins: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to five years’ probation

Alyssia Petrie: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to probation

Dale Pryce: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to six months in jail and five years post-release supervision

Francine Sokolowski: Will be sentenced on Oct. 20 to probation

Casey Jo West: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to probation

Mark Willard: Will be sentenced on Nov. 3 to five years’ probation

Robert Baker: Will be sentenced on Nov. 2 to five years’ probation

Adam Baxter: Sentenced on Sept. 14 to five years’ probation

Chase Baxter: Will be sentenced on Oct. 19 to five years’ probation

Olivia Bender: Judge will be determine sentencing in November

Amy Bennett: Will be sentenced on Oct. 19 to five years’ probation

Jamie Bonanno: Will be sentenced on Oct. 19 to five years’ probation

Brandon Bylow: Sentenced on Sept. 15 to four months in jail and five years’ probation

Kayla Fletcher: Sentenced on Sept. 7 to five years’ probation

Jamie Gaines: Will be sentenced on Nov. 3 to six months in jail and five years’ post-release supervision

Samantha Griffin: Will be sentenced on Jan. 11, 2018 to one year in prison and one year post-release supervision

Sharon Gushlaw: Sentenced to be determined on Nov. 30

Gregory James: Will be sentenced on Nov. 30 to probation

Mark Green: Sentenced on Sept. 7 to five years’ probation

Charles Ayotte: Judge will determine sentencing on Nov. 30

Barry Crayford: Will be sentenced on Dec. 7 to eight years in prison and three years post-release supervision

Jose Marcano: Will be sentenced on Dec. 1 to five years’ probation

Ciera Smith: Will be sentenced on Oct. 19 to six months in jail and five years’ probation

Katie Davison: Judge will determine sentencing on Dec. 1

The investigation was conducted by St. Lawrence County Detective Arthur Shattuck and OCTF Special Investigator Paul Pendergast, under the supervision of Supervising Investigator Thomas M. Wolf and Deputy Chief Eugene Black.

The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Senior Investigative Counsel James J. Mindell, under the supervision of OCTF Deputy Attorney General Peri Alyse Kadanoff.