Four Guilty Pleas for Drug Sales of Cocaine and Heroin in Albany County

There are a lot of cocaine and heroin court case updates today:

Guilty Plea for Cocaine Sale

District Attorney P. David Soares announced that RAKEEM CHARLESTON, 21, of Albany, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony, before Honorable Judge Stephen W. Herrick in Albany County Court  yesterday afternoon. 

During the day of July 18, 2014, in the area of 109 Lark Street, in the City of Albany, CHARLESTON did knowingly sell a quantity of crack cocaine in exchange for a sum of US currency.  CHARLESTON was then arrested on July 21, 2014, at approximately 5:46pm at 108 Lark Street, in the City of Albany, by the Albany Police Department.  Upon a subsequent search CHARLESTON was found to have 7.7 grams of crack cocaine divided into 32 baggies secreted on his person.

CHARLESTON faces up to 4 years in State Prison, to be followed by 2 years of Post-Release Supervision, when sentenced on December 2, 2014.

Assistant District Attorney Kurt Haas of the Street Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.


Guilty Plea for Colonie Cocaine Possession

District Attorney P. David Soares announced that TROY M. SAUNDERS, 30, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony, before Honorable Judge Peter A. Lynch in Albany County Court on Friday, October 24, 2014. 

On February 7, 2014, at approximately 11:50pm, members of the Colonie Police Department observed SAUNDERS failing to signal a turn while he was driving a vehicle at the intersection of Central Ave and Karner Road in the Town of Colonie. Upon a subsequent traffic stop, SAUNDERS fled police on foot and then engaged in a physical altercation with the officers, causing physical injury to one officer. A search uncovered 21 individual baggies of cocaine. 

SAUNDERS faces up to 4 ½ years in State Prison, to be followed by 3 years of Post-Release Supervision, when sentenced on January 9, 2015.  SAUNDERS will also have to forfeit all funds in association with this crime.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Brucato of the Street Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.


Two Plead Guilty to Heroin Sales
District Attorney P. David Soares announced TIMOTHY MANN, 43, of Albany, and CAROLYN FLOOD, 47, of Albany, each pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony, before the Honorable Thomas A. Breslin on Friday, October 24, 2014.

On July 1, 2014, at approximately 6:28pm, at 1860 Central Ave, in the Town of Colonie, MANN did knowingly sell a quantity of heroin for a sum of US currency.  

MANN faces up to 3 years in State Prison, to be followed by 2 years of Post-Release Supervision when sentenced on December 5, 2014.

Additionally on June 12, 2014, at approximately 1:10pm, in the area of 224-260 South Pearl St, in the City of Albany, FLOOD did knowingly sell a quantity of heroin in exchange for a sum of US currency.  

FLOOD faces up to 3 ½ years in State Prison, to be followed by 2 years of Post Release Supervision, along with forfeiture of all money and property seized, when sentenced on December 14, 2014. 

MANN and FLOOD were part of a network of an alleged heroin ring in Albany County.  The alleged heroin ring are accused of transporting and selling quantities of heroin throughout the region using taxi cabs that were typically being driven by alleged known associates.

On October 23, 2014, co-defendant NICHOLAS ZERVOS, 47, of Albany, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony, before Honorable Judge Roger McDonough in Albany County Supreme Court.  On July 16, 2014, at approximately 1:25pm, in the area of Elizabeth and Katherine Streets in the City of Albany, ZERVOS did sell a quantity of heroin in exchange for US Currency.

ZERVOS faces 4 years in State Prison, to be followed by 2 years of Post-Release Supervision, when sentenced on December 12, 2014.   ZERVOS will also be ordered to forfeit a mini-van that he used to transport heroin.

On September 10, 2014, co-defendant DONTE JOSEPH, 23, of Coeymans, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-II Felony, before Honorable Judge Peter A. Lynch in Albany County Court.  On July 31, 2014, at approximately 12:15pm, at an apartment at 1779 Central Avenue in the Town of Colonie, JOSEPH did attempt to possess a quantity of over eight ounces of heroin.

JOSEPH faces 7 years in State Prison, to be followed by 5 years of Post-Release Supervision, when sentenced on November 7, 2014.  JOSEPH will also be ordered to forfeit any property or money seized by law enforcement.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Brucato of the Street Crimes Unit is prosecuting these cases.