48 people are facing charges after a major narcotics ring was taken down in the Finger Lakes.
Attorney General Letitia James made the announcement Tuesday that over 10 kilograms each of fentanyl and cocaine were seized along with 19 illegal firearms and over 400-thousand dollars in cash throughout the course of the over two year investigation, mainly taking place in Monroe and Wayne Counties.
James said Wayne County Law Enforcement were the spearhead of the operation. “I want to especially recognize the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for starting this investigation and for their close partnership throughout the process,” James said during a press conference, “and that deserves a round of applause.”
The operation consisted of three phases, described by the Attorney General as follows:
Phase One: Wayne County
As alleged in the indictment, the investigation began in Wayne County and identified three interconnected groups that were responsible for selling drugs in Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, and Yates counties. The first phase focused on traffickers based in Wayne County and was centered around Michael Danzey and his brother, Terrance Raggs. Danzy and Raggs were the primary sources of cocaine for this operation and distributed to a network of customers throughout Wayne County.
During the investigation, investigators also uncovered that in June 2021, Danzey attempted to murder an individual that he believed was stealing from him. The individual sustained multiple serious injuries as a result of the shooting, but ultimately survived. In the aftermath of the shooting, Danzey asked his brother, Raggs, to conceal evidence from law enforcement. In addition to charges related to drug trafficking, Danzey is also being charged with attempted murder in the second degree and Raggs is being charged with hindering prosecution in the second degree.
Aaron Sweeney and Ryan Faniel were two other central figures who sold cocaine and oxycodone in Wayne, Monroe, and Ontario counties. As the investigation developed, it was further revealed that Sweeney was also sourcing drugs from individuals in Rochester.
Phase Two: Avenue D, Rochester
Investigators learned that Sweeney obtained cocaine from Raquel Torres a/k/a “Ma,” of 236 Avenue D, Rochester, New York, leading to the discovery of distributors and resellers living within the 200 block of Avenue D. In addition to Torres, investigators learned that multiple drug resellers were living within a few blocks of each other on Avenue D including Alexis Broida a/k/a “Lexi”, Jacquinn Edwards, Jasmine Ofray, and Raymond Vega. This single block in the city of Rochester was a major trafficking hub that distributed these dangerous drugs throughout the region. Buyers would be directed to different houses on Avenue D to pick up their drugs, including houses referred to as the “Green House,” the “Blue House,” the “Yellow House,” and the “Camper” based upon their exterior appearance. These distribution houses were all run by Vega.
Phase Three: The Rivera Family
The investigative team learned that many of the Avenue D narcotics sellers had a single source for their cocaine supply, Luis Rivera. This information led to the third phase of the investigation, and through intercepted communications and other evidence, investigators established that Luis Rivera and his sons, Luis Emmanuel a/k/a “Manny” Rivera, Natan a/k/a/ “Nate” Rivera, and Jacob a/k/a “J” Rivera, along with their associates, were operating a multi-kilogram level fentanyl and cocaine distribution network. The Riveras managed their operation out of a residential building in Rochester where Luis was the superintendent and where his son Manny lived. Luis and J Rivera arranged large shipments of fentanyl from California to Rochester, and several of these shipments were intercepted by investigators. J Rivera, who was serving time in federal prison in Louisiana at the time, smuggled contraband cellphones into prison to manage these shipments and the overall drug trafficking operation. The Riveras also sold fentanyl in pill form, claiming that it was oxycodone, putting their buyers at even greater risk.
Luis and J Rivera have been charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.
They also created a limited liability company (LLC) to launder money from their drug operation to purchase investment properties. Luis, J, and Manny have also been charged with Money Laundering in the Second Degree.
“I would like to thank Attorney General James for her partnership and support throughout this investigation, as well as all of our law enforcement partners who assisted with this case,” said Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby. “Three years ago, the roots of this investigation delved into the sources of illicit narcotics in Wayne County and quickly led to other areas of the Finger Lakes Region. As a result of our collective work, we will prevent the overdose deaths that we have been seeing so much of, and hold accountable those who have been on law enforcement’s radar and are responsible for harming our communities with dangerous drugs. In addition to the arrests and seizures of illegal weapons, drugs, and proceeds through this investigation, the quality of life in Western New York has also just improved tremendously.”
“I would like to thank and give credit to the Attorney General’s office for their hard work in this matter,” said Wayne County District Attorney Mike Calarco. “Through the combined offices of the New York Attorney General and the Wayne County District Attorney’s office we have been able to make Wayne County safer. It is a testament of what can be accomplished when multiple law enforcement agencies partner and work together.”
“The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office is proud to have partnered with our state and local partners in this extensive investigation involving sales of illicit drugs,” said Ontario County Sheriff David J. Cirencione. “All members of law enforcement across this region are united in working to rid our neighborhoods of these drugs that poison our communities. Those apprehended in this operation today and any others involved in the distribution of narcotics had better take notice that we are watching. We will continue to pool our resources in pursuing you until you and your illegal drugs are off of our streets.”
The 48 individuals charged for their role in the narcotics trafficking operation are:
Treshon Alexander, a/k/a “Tre,” 30 years old, Rochester, NY
Tyrone Berry, 41 years old, Lyons, NY
Alexis Broida, a/k/a/ “Lexi,” 30 years old, Rochester, NY
Derrick Brown, 39 years old, Lyons, NY
Geneva Rivera, a/k/a “Geneva Brown,” 31 years old, Grand Island, NY
James Butler, 76 years old, Newark, NY
Michael Danzey, 38 years old, Sodus, NY
Jacquinn Edwards, 36 years old, Rochester, NY
Ryan Faniel, 35 years old, Palmyra, NY
Romanis Glanton, 44 years old, Newark, NY
Jeanette Gonzalez, 48 years old, Rochester, NY
Jay Quanna Arrimintha Green, 28 years old, Rochester, NY
Karmalus Herrington, 48 years old, Newark, NY
Christopher Johnston, 27 years old, Penn Yann, NY
Alicia Lannon, 34 years old, Palmyra, NY
Daniel Littles, 35 years old, Lyons, NY
Carlos Luna, a/k/a “Flaco,” 46 years old, Rochester, NY
Christina Martin, 44 years old, Newark, NY
Nelson Martinez, 44 years old, Rochester, NY
Randolph Mattice, 55 years old, Canandaigua, NY
Brooke Miner, 25 years old, Newark, NY
Jamaal Moody, 32 years old, Newark, NY
Megan Murray, 31 years old, Fairport, NY
Jasmine Ofray, 36 years old, Rochester, NY
Andrea Parker, 51 years old, Palmyra, NY
Terrance Raggs, 45 years old, Sodus, NY
Tyquail Raggs, 24 years old, Sodus, NY
Jacob Rivera, a/k/a “J,” 32 years old, Rochester, NY
Luis Rivera, 66 years old, Rochester, NY
Luis Emmanuel Rivera, a/k/a “Manuel,” a/k/a “Manny,” 28 years old, Rochester, NY
Natan Rivera, a/k/a “Nate,” 25 years old, Rochester, NY
Daniel Rodriguez, 33 years old, Rochester, NY
Joshua Rodriguez, 28 years old, Rochester, NY
Xavier Roman, a/k/a “Javi,” 47 years old, Rochester, NY
Ulysses Sanchez, a/k/a “Chichi,” 34 years old, Rochester, NY
William Sanchez, a/k/a “Billy,” 45 years old, Rochester, NY
Matthew Simmons, 38 years old, Lyons, NY
Amber Streeter, 35 years old, Newark, NY
Aaron Sweeney, 23 years old, Fairport, NY
David Sweeney, 44 years old, Macedon, NY
Richard Taft, 36 years old, Lyons, NY
Nicholas Tandle, 39 years old, Geneva, NY
Victoria Tandle, 25 years old, Lyons, NY
Raquel Torres, a/k/a “Ma,” 45 years old, Rochester, NY
Raymond Vega, 56 years old, Rochester, NY
Scott Wheaton, 45 years old, Pulaski, NY
William Wheaton, 43 years old, Clifton Springs, NY
Brandon Williams, 30 years old, Savannah, NY
Michael Danzey is also charged with Attempted Murder and Assault in the First Degree, and related crimes, and Terrance Raggs is charged with Hindering Prosecution.
