Schenectady Drug Distribution Organization Dismantled
Three Members of the Toomer Family and Jeffrey McGough Sr. and Jr. are Among the 16 Defendants Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Crack
| U.S. Attorney's Office October 05, 2010 |
United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced "the opening salvo in the campaign against violent crime in Schenectady" with the unsealing of a Superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury for the Northern District of New York in Albany, New York, charging 16 individuals in a 29-count indictment. All defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, in Schenectady County and elsewhere, from August 2009 through March 2010, and with the use of a communication facility to facilitate the charged conspiracy. In addition, six of the defendants are charged with distribution and/or possession with intent to distribute cocaine or crack cocaine on various days in 2009 and 2010.
The defendants charged are:
- Jamar Green, 36, Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Jamie Lee Toomer, 26, Schenectady, New York
- Derrick Henderson, 44, Schenectady, New York
- Riccia Goody, 22, Schenectady, New York
- Joseph Toomer, 36, Schenectady, New York
- Victor Toomer, 25, Schenectady, New York
- Jeffrey McGough, Sr., 47, Schenectady, New York
- Jeffrey McGough, Jr., 28, Schenectady, New York
- Mario Williams, 31, Schenectady, New York
- Moises Olds, 19, Schenectady, New York
- Trinelle Frye, 27, Schenectady, New York
- Dennis Ryan, 39, Schenectady, New York
- Koshon Taylor, 23, Schenectady, New York
- Carlos Rodriguez, 53, Schenectady, New York
- Alexis Bass, 25, Schenectady, New York
- Matthew Cuckoo, 26, Gloversville, New York
The superseding indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine or 50 grams of crack, the maximum possible penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $4,000,000.00. There is a statutory minimum penalty of imprisonment for 10 years, or 20 years for the eight defendants alleged to have prior drug felony convictions.
The Indictment alleges the roles of the defendants in the conspiracy, charging that:
Jamar Green procured cocaine and crack cocaine in New York City for distribution to Jamie Lee Toomer and others;
Jamie Lee Toomer obtained cocaine and crack in New York City and had it transported to Schenectady for re-distribution;
Derrick Henderson transported money to purchase cocaine and crack from Schenectady to New York City, and transported cocaine and crack cocaine back from New York City to Schenectady;
Riccia Goody assisted Jamie Lee Toomer in the storage and distribution of cocaine and crack; and Joseph Toomer, Victor Toomer, Jeffrey Mcgough, Sr., Jeffrey Mcgough, Jr, Mario Williams, Moises Olds, Trinelle Frye, Dennis Ryan, Koshon Taylor, Carlos Rodriguez, Alexis Bass, and Matthew Cuckoo received cocaine and/or crack from Jamie Lee Toomer for redistribution.
The Indictment also alleges that:
On February 16, 2010, Jamie Lee Toomer and Derrick Henderson were in possession of $42,900 in a vehicle on the New York State Thruway that they intended to use to purchase cocaine and crack cocaine; and
On March 28, 2010, Jamie Lee Toomer and Riccia Goody were in an apartment in Schenectady with about 750 grams of crack cocaine and 220 grams of cocaine.
The Indictment is the product of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York State Police, the Schenectady Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office, and the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.
United States Attorney Hartunian thanked the leaders of these agencies, and the agents, investigators, and police officers who do the difficult and dangerous work to protect our communities and noted that through collaboration such as this, law enforcement can most effectively fulfill their shared responsibility for public safety. Hartunian noted that drug trafficking is a blight on our cities, poisoning addicts and other users; destroying families and lives; funding gang activity and other organized crime; begetting violence; and misleading our children into thinking drug dealing is the path to easy money. Hartunian further stated, "putting drug trafficking organizations out of business takes vigorous enforcement efforts combining federal, state, and local resources and expertise. Community-wide cooperation through prevention, intervention, and education initiatives will restore neighborhoods and guide children to a better way."
New York State Police Acting Superintendent John P. Melville said, "The individuals arrested were responsible for trafficking large amounts of cocaine from the metropolitan New York area for distribution in and around the City of Schenectady. These arrests effectively dismantled this distribution network. All of the investigators assigned to this multi-agency investigation deserve recognition for their tireless work in producing evidence to support this prosecution."
District Attorney Robert Carney said, "Since June, 2009 I have committed resources from my office to address gang and gun violence in the City of Schenectady. It should come as no surprise to anyone that drug crimes are intertwined with violence and now that state drug statutes have softened the penalties for drug trafficking, federal drug statutes are even more valuable tools to attack and prevent crimes of violence. This drug indictment represents step one in an ongoing campaign to make our streets safer. I thank the federal officials and agencies responsible for this operation and for their commitment to our community."