United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CLINTON COUNTY, N.Y. - Special Agent in Charge Brian Crowell of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York (DEA) and Clinton County District Attorney Andrew J. Wylie announced today that a unified law enforcement drug investigation resulted in the filing of Grand Jury Indictments against 61 individuals during the current term of the Clinton County Grand Jury with charges relating to the sale and or possession of controlled substances.  

DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell stated, “Over the past two days, law enforcement at all levels coordinated their resources to arrest 61 individuals as part of a poly-drug investigation in Clinton County and surrounding areas.  Yesterday, the National Institute on Drug Abuse announced that 15% of 8th grade students had used drugs in the past year and this takedown demonstrates the importance of our law enforcement mission to identify and arrest those who distribute illegal drugs throughout our communities.  I commend the men and women of the Adirondack Drug Task Force for their diligent work in this investigation, enforcement operation, and their service to the public.”

Twenty-three of these defendants have previous felony convictions with 17 of them having a prior felony conviction for the sale or possession of controlled substances.

Seven of the 61 defendants are college students with six enrolled at Plattsburgh State University and  one enrolled at Clinton Community College at the time of their arrests.

Of the 61 individuals that have been indicted, 50 have been arrested by members of the Adirondack Drug Task Force and the New York State Police Troop B Narcotics Enforcement Unit and arraigned in Clinton County Court before the Hon. Patrick R. McGill or the Hon. Kevin K. Ryan.  Two additional individuals have been arrested in other states and arraigned as fugitives pending their extraditions back to Clinton County.

The following defendants were arrested recently and have been arraigned as part of the unified law enforcement drug investigation: