MONTICELLO – Federal, state and local law enforcement converged
on a number of locations in the Village of Liberty area on Tuesday arresting
21 people on narcotics and firearms offenses.
They have all been indicted on federal charges including selling narcotics,
conspiring to sell narcotics, and possession of firearms in furtherance
of their drug sales.
Members of the conspiracy regularly sold heroin in the parking lots of
businesses, including a nursing home and a drug recovery center in the
Village of Liberty, authorities allege.
Sullivan County District Attorney Jams Farrell said with the most recent
arrests, “enforcement continues to move forward, at full speed.”
Sheriff Michael Schiff said police will continue to use “every resource
available, whether it be federal, state or local, to find those who are
peddling poison to our children and bring them to justice.”
Liberty Village Police Chief Scott Kinne said this investigation “will
have a significant impact on drug sales and other crimes in the Village
of Liberty.” That sentiment was echoed by Monticello Village Police
Chief Robert Mir.
“Drugs destroy lives, rip apart families and fuel a cycle of addiction
and violence in our communities,” said US Attorney Preet Bharara.
“With the federal drug and gun charges brought today, we seek to
incapacitate two different drug rings that have for years been selling
heroin and crack cocaine, and protecting their business with guns, in
Sullivan County and specifically, in the Village of Liberty.”
