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Sheriff's Narcotics Investigators Arrest Two in Connection with Interstate Drug Trafficking Ring
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of two Danbury, Connecticut men on felony drug charges, accusing the pair of conducting a major cocaine distribution business in various shopping center parking lots throughout the Towns of Southeast and Patterson.
According to the Sheriff, an investigator assigned to the Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit developed information that two men were traveling from Danbury, Connecticut to Putnam County for the purpose of selling street-level quantities of cocaine. Undercover narcotics investigators were able to infiltrate the operation and purchase cocaine from the men on several occasions. Due to the large quantity and high grade quality of the narcotics being sold, the investigation was expanded to the City of Danbury.
The Danbury Police Department's Special Investigations Division was notified and subsequently joined the investigation. Together, both agencies conducted an extensive surveillance of 25-year-old Enmamuel Taveras of Clifton Place and 23-year-old Wilmer Toribio-Ventura of Nichols Street. The officers' observations of the pair, along with the intelligence they gathered, enabled Danbury police detectives to obtain search warrants from the State of Connecticut Superior Court for Taveras and Toribio-Ventura's apartments. On April 9, 2008, members of the Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit arrested Taveras and Toribio-Ventura after they were observed selling cocaine at a Southeast shopping center. At the time of their arrest, investigators seized a 1998 Honda sedan, $900 in cash and 2 ounces of high-grade cocaine. At the same time, Danbury detectives executed their search warrants at the suspects' homes. As a result of the raids, police seized more than a kilogram of cocaine valued at approximately $115,000, $4,000 in United States currency, several pieces of high-end electronic equipment and a small quantity of heroin.
Sheriff's narcotics investigators charged Mr. Taveras with 2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and 4 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Mr. Toribio-Ventura was charged with 2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and 3 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Each charge is a class "B" felony in the State of New York and may be punishable by a term of imprisonment as determined by a court for up to 25 years in a New York State Correctional Facility and/or a fine not to exceed $30,000.The pair was arraigned in Southeast Town Court and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail each. Danbury police have applied for Superior Court warrants charging each of the men with possession of narcotics and possession with intent to sell in the State of Connecticut. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.
Sheriff Donald B. Smith praised his department and Danbury police for working together on this case. "By sharing information with Danbury detectives and conducting a joint investigation, two men suspected being major cocaine suppliers are in jail, and are expected to stay there for a very long time, said Sheriff Smith." The Sheriff also cited the outstanding work of Deputy Matthew Monroe of the Sheriffs Patrol Division. "Deputy Monroe is to be complimented for a job well done. He was instrumental in assisting our narcotics investigators in the successful conclusion to this case," concluded Sheriff Smith.
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