Fourteen people charged in drug busts

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September 11, 2009

Arrests linked to sale of cocaine, prescription drugs

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG The Press Republican Sat Sep 12, 2009, 01:12 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — Continuing investigations by the Adirondack Drug Task Force have resulted in the arrests of 14 people.

According to the Clinton County District Attorney's Office, a grand jury has returned indictments against local and downstate residents in connection with the alleged sales of cocaine and prescription drugs.

Several of those accused allegedly sold drugs to undercover officers with the Task Force earlier this year.

The Task Force comprises members of the State Police, Plattsburgh City Police, Clinton County Sheriff's Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol and the District Attorney's Office.

Their efforts typically result in about three large rounds of arrests each year.

The suspects from the latest bust and their charges are:

Elizabeth Chaffee, 25, of Plattsburgh: Charged Sept. 8 with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities believe she sold cocaine on at least two occasions late last year. She is being held in Clinton County Jail on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

Gregg L. Gates, 35, of Plattsburgh: Charged Sept. 8 with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities believe he sold cocaine with Chaffee on at least two occasions late last year. He remains in custody on $50,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

Edward Ackley, 61, of Plattsburgh: Fifth-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance.

He is accused of selling painkillers to Task Force members in January. Ackley is being held at Clinton County Jail on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond.

Emery Beshaw Jr., 40, of Plattsburgh: Arraigned Friday on two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities believe he sold morphine pills on at least two occasions last year. He is in County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

Gary Tunnell Jr., 41, of Plattsburgh: Arraigned Friday on two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police he believe he sold cocaine on at least two occasions earlier this year. He is now being held on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

Chad Webber, 27, of Plattsburgh: Arraigned Friday on two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities believe he sold both morphine pills and cocaine locally late last year. He is behind bars on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

Dean Soucie, 45, of Plattsburgh: Arraigned Friday on charges of two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities believe he sold and possessed painkiller patches on several occasions earlier this year. He is being held on $1,000 cash bail.

Michelle Groleau, 38, of Plattsburgh: In Clinton County Court Friday after being charged with two counts of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said Groleau sold about 40 prescription pills to Task Force members last year. She is being held on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

Cassandra Soper, 22, of Plattsburgh: Arraigned Thursday on two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Soper is accused of selling cocaine locally on several occasions. She is now being held on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

Randy Newell, 51, of Plattsburgh: Two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities believe Newell possessed cocaine with the intent to sell. He remains in custody on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

Denisha Rapier, 19, of Brooklyn: Indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing cocaine locally earlier this year. She remains in County Jail on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

Fritz Boutin, 19, of Far Rockaway: Indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing cocaine locally earlier this year.

He remains in custody on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

Jamell Carter, 29, of Cope, S.C.: Two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing cocaine locally earlier this year. He is behind bars on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

Dustin Vowles, 31, of Redford: Third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance. He is accused of possessing and selling cocaine locally in late July. He is being held on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com