AG announces guilty plea in Capital Region drug trafficking ring

All 25 defendants were referred to the courthouse Drug trafficking gang distributing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine Criminals across the Capital Region have pleaded guilty, the Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday.

A criminal complaint was filed against the suspects in November 2023, and police seized more than three kilograms of cocaine and approximately 40 grams of fentanyl-laced heroin. The total market value is approximately $350,000.

One of the names involved in the operation was Efrain Acevado, who sold drugs at his restaurant “El Coqui” in Troy and stored the proceeds of the operation and drugs.

According to prosecutors, Alexander Torres and Yamillet Galarza were key figures in the ring and worked together to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in Rensselaer County. Torres had four different sources for cocaine and narcotics. He purchased fentanyl-laced heroin from a Bronx dealer who provided designer bags that read “American Gangster.”

Acevedo pleaded guilty and faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison.

The first defendant was sentenced on Tuesday. Rensselaer County heroin and fentanyl trafficker Elvis Colon was sentenced to 12.5 to 15 years in prison.

The following defendants also pleaded guilty:

• Raul Baez, Schenectady
• Erick Baez, Schenectady
• Jose Cintron, Troy
• Javier Colón, Philadelphia
• Mercedes Danahy, Troy
• James Foley, Troy
• Jack FrazierTroy
• José Galarza, Troy
• Yamillet Galarza, Troy
• Vladimir Guzman Grullon, Bronx
• David Harden, Troy
• House of Mark, Troy
• Karim Küçük, Troy,
• Jordan McCullenTroy
• Jahtiek Milisci, Troy,
• Beau Moreau, Schenectady
• Michael Nelson, Troy
• Tracy Taylor, Troy
• Denzel Timot, Troy
• Alexander Torres, Troy
• Israel Vasquez, Troy
• Abner Velasquez, Holyoke, Mass
• David Venson, Troy

Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly and the Schenectady County Drug Task Force assisted in the investigation.

“We are committed to ending the opioid crisis in our state, and that means tackling this problem from every angle, including stopping dangerous drug traffickers bringing fentanyl into our communities,” Attorney General James said in a statement. “This drug trafficking ring has established an extensive network to sell hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs and now they are being brought to justice. “I thank all of our partners in this investigation for their hard work to protect our communities and keep New Yorkers safe.”