The first person charged in a major drug trafficking ring in the Capital Region and Dutchess County, busted last year and included 25 people, has been sentenced to prison.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the convictions of members of the major drug trafficking ring that distributed heroin and fentanyl, as well as powder and crack cocaine in Albany, Dutchess, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties.
An investigation led by the Attorney General’s Office recovered more than three kilograms of cocaine and approximately 40 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, which have a combined potential street value of roughly $350,000.
The investigation also recovered four handguns, two large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and over $50,000 in cash.
All 25 individuals charged in the investigation have pleaded guilty, and the first defendant was sentenced yesterday to 12 ½ to 15 years in prison for his role in the trafficking operation.
The investigation centered on the activities of several key individuals in the Capital Region who bought and sold large quantities of drugs. Alexander Torres and Yamillet Galarza were central figures in the narcotics distribution network, and they often partnered together to obtain and sell heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in Rensselaer County.