Cortland Man Among 17 Individuals Arrested Following Major Drug Takedown of CNY Fentanyl, Meth, & Cocaine Trafficking Network – Weapons & Over $800k in Cash Found
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Attorney General (AG) for New York, Letitia James, says 17 people have been indicted for their role in a major drug trafficking network throughout Central New York. The drug network, James says, distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and meth. The drug network included Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cortland, and Tompkins Counties.
The investigation led by the Attorney General Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) led to the seizure of 23 pounds of fentanyl work over $625,000, the largest single seizure of fentanyl powder by the task force. Law enforcement also found nearly 4 pounds of cocaine worth over $125,000, and over 12 pounds of meth worth over $32,000.
AG James says the 23 pounds of fentanyl found is enough to kill one New Yorker every 6 seconds for an entire year.
Cash and weapons were also seized as part of the major investigation. In total, $880,000 in cash was found tied to the drug trafficking, James says, and three illegal firearms, and two vehicles used to transport the drugs.
The indictment, which was unsealed in Onondaga County Court Tuesday morning, charged the 17 defendants with 125 crimes.
“Traffickers who flood our communities with fentanyl and other drugs are threatening the important progress New York has made in reducing overdoses and fighting the opioid crisis,” said Attorney General James. “Thanks to the hard work of this investigation and our law enforcement partners, we took more than five million deadly doses of fentanyl off our streets. I will continue to use every resource at my disposal to put an end to these destructive drug trafficking rings and keep New Yorkers safe from dangerous narcotics.”
The 17 individuals who were charged in relation to their involvement in the narcotics trafficking operation, including various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, and C felonies), and/or Conspiracy to commit those crimes, include:
Etiem M. Berrios, 45 years old, of Syracuse, NY
Chase Cahoon, 39 years old, of Rome, NY
Cory M. Ching, 32 years old, of Poland, NY
Ronnie R. Evanciew, 29 years old, of Taberg, NY
Tyler J. Forshee, 30 years old, of Cortland, NY
Joshua B. Goyette, 47 years old, of Freeville, NY
Jaquan T. Jones, a/k/a “Flame”, 31 years old, of Syracuse, NY
Gary M. Jordan, 53 years old, of Rome, NY
Cody E. Lane, 29 years old, of Rome, NY
Nicole E. Lighthall, 29 years old, of Forestport, NY
Alexander Medina, 24 years old, of Syracuse, NY
Antonio Sanchez, 37 years old, of New Rochelle, NY
Autumn R. Schneider, 28 years old, of Bridgeport, NY
Heather R. Sharpsteen, 39 years old, of Groton, NY
Joshua J. Stimpson, 29 years old, of Bridgeport, NY
Zachary M. Thornhill, 36 years old, of Liverpool, NY
Amanda L. Valenti, 41 years old, of Genoa, NY
The investigation took place from September 2024 through May of 2025. AG James says the investigation uncovered a drug trafficking ring centered around Jaquan Jones, aka “Flame,” who distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and meth to customers throughout the CNY Region.
AG James says Jones purchased “significant” quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and meth from Antonio Sanchez and others, and supplied drugs to a large network of dealers.
The dealers included: Etiem Berrios, Ronnie Evanciew, Tyler Forshee, Joshua Goyette, Gary Jordan, Cody Lane, Nicole Lighthall, Autumn Schneider, Heather Sharpsteen, Joshua Stimpson, Zachary Thornhill, and Amanda Valenti.
The investigation found Jones would arrange the sale of the drugs through text messages and tell his customers to meet at a common location where he would show-up and sell them all at once. Codewords were also used to refer to the drugs: “Soft” for cocaine, “Fet” or “Fetty” for Fentanyl, and “Ice” for meth. Drugs sold by Jones to his customers would then sell those drugs throughout the region. AG James says Jones is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a mandatory life sentence in state prison..
Investigators recovered nearly 22 pounds of fentanyl, and 12 ounces of cocaine Jones was storing in a garage attached to a house in Syracuse. A search of an apartment rented by Sanchez in Onondaga County also led to the seizure of fentanyl mixed with heroin and ketamine, along with scales, glassines, and cutting agents, AG James says.
“Joshua Stimpson, who is also charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, worked in conjunction with his partner, Autumn Schneider, and others to sell the drugs they bought from Jones throughout Oneida and Madison Counties. The investigation recovered more than five ounces of fentanyl, more than two ounces of cocaine, and five pounds of methamphetamine from their home.”
According to the release.
The investigation was led by OAG OCTF Detective Toby Lindfield, under the supervision of OCTF Assistant Chief Investigator John Monte and Deputy Chief Investigator Andrew Boss. The OAG’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.
