United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OTSEGO COUNTY, N.Y. -  Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement (DEA) Brian R. Crowell, Otsego County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin, Jr, Oneonta Police Chief Dennis R. Nayor and Otsego County District Attorney John M. Muehl announce the arrest of a major trafficking ring responsible for operating a heroin drug trafficking organization based in Oneonta, NY with heroin supplied from the Bronx, NY. 

Over the past two years, the Albany District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, the Oneonta City Police Department Detective Bureau and the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office have been investigating the illegal trafficking of heroin into and throughout Otsego County.  A variety of investigative techniques were used by law enforcement personnel throughout the ongoing investigation called “Operation Dial Tone”. 

DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell stated, “The arrest of this major drug trafficker has resulted in shutting down a heroin distribution ring focused on flooding the streets of Otsego County with heroin.  With a drug pipeline from the Bronx, NY to the streets of Otsego County, Garcia sold and distributed thousands of bags of heroin into this community.  Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our joint law enforcement partnership, the Garcia organization could not hide in the Bronx where they thought they were safe from detection. Today, she and her organization face the consequences of supplying heroin into our communities for the sake of making drug money.”  

Oneonta Police Department Chief Dennis R. Nayor stated, “A lot of hard work and mutual agency cooperation went into this investigation and the arrests were a direct result of that hard work and cooperation.”

Sheriff Devlin, Jr added, “These arrests are extremely significant.  Individually they represent a drug dealer and heroin taken off the streets. But collectively they represent the investigative efforts that it takes to dismantle a drug trafficking organization, targeting the organization’s upper management and leadership. Because of the complexity and fluidity of this case, investigators dedicated long hours toward its conclusion.  It was only through the individual efforts of these investigators and agencies involved that these arrests were made and this organization’s criminal activity was terminated.”

The Investigation:
On December 7, 2012 in the evening hours, three local men were arrested following a traffic stop for possessing 209 bags of heroin that had come from the Bronx, NY.   Deputies Keith Sheldon and Michael Stalter stopped the 2005 Chevrolet Impala that was being operated by Daniel P. Parrotte, age 24, of 263 Cty Hwy 2, Mt Upton, NY on Lower Main Street in the Town of Oneonta, NY for an equipment violation.  Passengers in the vehicle were Eric J. Doherty, age 22, of 155 Cross Road, Unadilla, NY and Azar K. Hughes, age 24, of 168 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY and formerly of the Bronx, NY.  The deputies noticed inconsistent stories between the occupants of the vehicle as to what they were doing and where they had been.  Deputy Sheldon observed a New York City parking ticket on the dashboard of the vehicle and none of the occupants admitted to being in NYC.  Deputy Stalter observed a hypodermic syringe in the passenger inside door handle where Doherty was sitting.  After removing the occupants from the vehicle, Deputy Sheldon used his narcotics detection dog to search the vehicle.   K-9 Ricky alerted on a PlayStation gaming console and baseball cap that were in the backseat of the vehicle where Hughes was originally sitting.  Sheriff’s Office investigators, DEA special agents and OPD detectives responded to assist the deputies.  Further investigation revealed that the 209 packets of heroin valued at $8,180 were hidden inside the PlayStation and a small quantity of crack cocaine was secreted in Hughes’ hat.  After being interviewed at the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Hughes, Parrotte and Doherty were all arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree, both felonies, for constructively possessing the heroin in the motor vehicle and for conspiring to possess the narcotic drug for sale in Otsego County.  Doherty was additionally charged with criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument, a misdemeanor, and Hughes was also charged with CPCS 7th charge for possessing the crack cocaine.  Town of Oneonta Judge Philip S. Hosley arraigned the three individuals on December 8th and they were all remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $25,000 bail.  Each one faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of these charges

On December 17, 2012 in the afternoon, Sheriff’s Office investigators and Oneonta PD detectives arrested Anthony M. Kinloch, age 20, of 10748 160th St, Jamaica, NY for CPCS 3rd and assault 2nd, both felonies, as well as resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.  Investigators and detectives were performing surveillance on the Oneonta Bus Station on Market Street as buses were now commonly being used by the drug trafficking organization to transport heroin from NYC to Oneonta.  Upon approaching and questioning Kinloch who was waiting for the NYC bus to leave, he gave inconsistent and non-truthful answers to questions posed by law enforcement personnel.  As investigators searched Kinloch and located what appeared to be a bundle of heroin and $585 in U.S. currency, he was being placed under arrest and in the process of being handcuffed when he fled on foot.  Kinloch caused an injury to the hand of an investigator when he was being handcuffed.  He ran across the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center parking lot and then scaled a chain link fence with law enforcement in pursuit of him.  Kinloch threw the heroin packet on ground as he was being chased which was recovered by investigators.  Oneonta PD officers responded to the scene and Patrolman Phillip Kraft located Kinloch in the stream behind the Damaschke Field in Neahwa Park and took him into custody without further incident.  Sheriff’s deputies and State Troopers and investigators from the Oneonta barracks also responded to the area to assist with the search.  Kinloch was held in the Oneonta PD lockup until he was arraigned by Oneonta City Judge Richard W. McVinney on December 18th and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $20,000 bail.  Kinloch faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the CPCS 3rd charge.   

Later in the evening on December 17th, Sheriff’s Office investigators and DEA special agents continued their surveillance of the Oneonta Bus Station.  Louis Medina, age 24, of 528 W 47th St, New York, NY was arrested for CPCS 3rd for possessing 200 packets of heroin valued at $8,000 after he arrived in Oneonta on the NYC bus.  Medina was questioned by law enforcement personnel and he gave inconsistent and non-truthful answers to several questions.  A search of Medina produced the 200 packets of heroin destined for sale in Otsego County.  Medina was held in the Oneonta PD lockup until he was arraigned by Oneonta City Judge Richard W. McVinney on December 18th and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $20,000 bail.  Medina faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the CPCS 3rd charge.   

On February 17, 2013 Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested Anays Garcia, age 25, of 150 W 82nd St, New York, NY at the Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, NY when she went to visit her boyfriend, Jose “Flip” Rodriguez, who is serving a 40 year prison sentence for operating as a major trafficker in Otsego County and is presently under indictment and awaiting for trial on CPCS 3rd and conspiracy 4th charges for running his drug trafficking organization from the Otsego County Jail in the fall of 2011.  Garcia who had intentions of visiting Rodriguez was stopped by investigators from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Inspector General and turned over to the Sheriff’s Office investigators.  Garcia who was directing the heroin drug trafficking organization from NYC since the summer of 2012 was charged with operating a major trafficker, conspiracy in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, all felonies.  Garcia was later arraigned by Town of Oneonta Judge Philip S. Hosley and remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility without bail.  If convicted Garcia could face up to 54 years in state prison if convicted on the charges. 

Sheriff Richard J. Devlin, Jr says “The arrest of Anays Garcia is satisfying in two ways, it not only takes a drug dealer off the street but more importantly it dismantled an elaborate drug trafficking ring.  This trafficking ring distributed narcotics from New York City to local towns, villages and cities.  This was a significant investigation and arrest that was successful because of the tireless efforts of all of our law enforcement partners.  It can’t be overstated, how this arrest truly made our community a safer place to live.”

The cases are being prosecuted by District Attorney John M. Muehl and Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael F. Getman.

The narcotics trafficking investigation is continuing and further arrests are expected for those who conspired with the drug trafficking organization to sell heroin in Otsego County.