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More Than 100 Arrests Expected In Drug Sweep In Two Westchester Cities

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A seven-month multi-agency investigation in White Plains and New Rochelle is expected to result in more than 100 arrests of suspected drug dealers, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said Wednesday.

Photo Credit: File photo

Police in those cities were joined by Westchester County Police, the FBI and federal Drug Enforcement Agency in a multi-jurisdictional street-level narcotics probe dubbed "City Sweeper 2" -- rounding up an expected 39 drug trafficking suspects in White Plains and 64 in New Rochelle.

As of Wednesday, all but about 20 individuals had been arrested.

Each of the 103 suspects has, or will be charged upon their arrest with street-level sales of controlled substances, DiFiore said. The majority of the sales involved crack-cocaine, although there were a number of heroin sales made throughout the investigation, she said. There also were several sales of hydrocodone, PCP, morphine and fentanyl. Purchases ranged in price from $20 to $100.

Indictments charged the initial 29 suspects with: two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class "B" felonies.

“Of those who have been indicted, we intend to vigorously prosecute the individuals among them who have violent criminal histories or are significant dealers without drug problems,'' DiFiore said in a press statement. "We will certainly consider our judicial diversion drug treatment program as an alternative for those who have made these drug sales to support a serious drug problem of their own.” 

White Plains police began arresting suspects on Nov. 19, rounding up 33 of 39 suspects with outstanding warrants. On Wednesday, New Rochelle police arrested about 50 of 64 people suspected of dealing drugs in that city, as reported earlier by the Daily Voice.

Bail was set at various amounts for those charged in Westchester County Court. Other individuals were arraigned in the City Courts of New Rochelle and White Plains.

Defendants with prior felony convictions face a maximum of 12 years in prison. Those without prior convictions face a maximum of nine years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Tom Luzio, chief of the Narcotics Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kevin Kennedy of the Narcotics Bureau supervised the investigation.

 

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