United States Attorney Richard S.

Hartunian Northern District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2012 http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nyn CONTACT: Carl G. Eurenius John G. Duncan (315) 448-0672

TWO DOZEN CENTRAL NEW YORK INDIVIDUALS INDICTED FOR POSSESSING PSEUDOEPHEDRINE TO MANUFACTURE METHAMPHETAMINE Local, State, and Federal agents seek twenty four individuals from Madison, Oneida, and Oswego Counties in early morning raid. [SYRACUSE, NEW YORK]Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York,Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and New York State Police Superintendent Joseph DAmico announce the indictments of 24 individuals in connection with a major methamphetamine manufacture and distribution investigation and initiative centered in Madison, Oneida, and Oswego Counties. Those indicted represent some of the largest area manufacturers, distributors, and users of the illegal drug methamphetamine in Central New York. As purchasers of pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in the production of methamphetamine, those indicted personally purchased thousands of pseudoephedrine pills over the last two to three years, and received thousands of pills from individuals, known as smurfs, who bought the pills to trade for the finished product, methamphetamine, with the meth cooks. The year long drug investigation that resulted in todays arrests was the result of an effective collaboration of the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York State Police, and law enforcement agencies in Madison, Oneida, and Oswego Counties. For years, state and local law enforcement have devoted tremendous resources and time to identifying and investigating methamphetamine manufacturing and use, only to discover that there is little or no methamphetamine left when the arrests are made. This new approach combines the excellent work being done by law enforcement to investigate these crimes with a powerful federal tool for prosecution that makes it a federal felony to possess or distribute pseudoephedrine with the knowledge that it will be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(c)(2). Each of the 24 individuals whose indictments are announced today, and who are listed below, have been charged in a separate indictment alleging one count of this offense. This joint investigation involved special agents and officers of the DEA Syracuse Resident Office, the City of Oneida Police Department, the New York State Police, the Canastota Police Department, the Oneida Indian Nation Police, the Madison County Sheriffs Office, and the District Attorney's Offices of Oneida, Oswego, and Madison Counties. Also assisting in this investigation were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service. The prosecutions are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Carl Eurenius.

-2New York State Police Superintendent Joseph DAmico stated "I'd like to recognize the impressive investigative efforts of our federal, state, county and local law enforcement partners involved with this case. Today's indictments and arrests are the result of a tremendous amount of intelligence, investigative and analytical work. These efforts, along with the support of the U.S. Attorney's Office, will ultimately rid the community of methamphetamine and its associated dangers." DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Wilbert L. Plummer stated, "Clandestine methamphetamine labs have surfaced again. In this case, it was through concerted efforts from the DEA, local and state law enforcement to identify those violating the laws and purchasing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to produce meth for their own use or for distribution. Meth abuse is a serious problem that we are addressing throughout the state of New York and it is law enforcement's responsibility to enforce the laws while working with our educators, treatment and prevention partners to send the message to our community about the dangers of abusing this drug as well as all others." Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley stated The combined efforts put forward by local police departments, sheriffs offices, NYSP and federal agencies is a sign of how seriously we take the problem of meth labs. We have seen a growing number of meth lab dumps across the county. The dangers of manufacturing meth and the disposal of the items used to manufacture creates a grave risk for any citizen that comes in contact with it. This raid today will hopefully send a clear message that law enforcement in Madison County will be making this a top priority. Those charged with possessing or distributing pseudoephedrine with the knowledge that it will be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine include the following: Defendant From Madison County: (1) THOMAS M. LAPLANTE (2) * THERESA M. PERSON (3) TRACY L. JENNISON (4) THERESA A. STROBECK (5) FRANK A. PENNISI (6) * TODD C. COLEMAN (7) LEONARD SETH SPADTER (8) MEAGAN N. STIMPSON (9) RONALD E. McEATHRON (10) JOSHUA A. DRUMMOND (11) CASEY L. SPADTER From Oneida County (12) KENNETH W. McGUINNESS (13) TERRY L. ROSS (14) LAURIE (FULLER) BURDICK (15) WANDA KINGSLEY (16) JESSEE L, STEVENS Age 45 49 39 30 47 42 32 24 36 24 29 33 51 42 47 24 City of Residence Durhamville Durhamville Chittenango Blossvale Oneida Blossvale Canastota In state custody In state custody In state custody In federal custody Florence Florence Florence Florence Annsville

-3(17) ADAM P. WILSON From Oswego County (18) * CY RAYDER (19) ANDREW A. RAYDER (20) STEPHANIE (HOLT) OSTRANDER (21) TIMOTHY S. PECK (22) LAURIE GERVAIS (23) ANTHONY R. BATTLES (24) WILLIAM J. CORCORAN * Still At Large As of late this morning, 16 of the 24 defendants have been arrested by law enforcement authorities and will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter. If convicted, they each face a term of imprisonment of up to twenty (20) years and a fine of up to $250,000. In addition to the drug charge, defendant CASEY SPADTER is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a penalty of up to ten (10) years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The indictment is a mere accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### 32 28 23 32 34 47 23 35 Florence Williamstown Richland Mexico Fulton Parish Parish In state custody