Ithaca, N.Y. — Thirty-three people have been identified as wanted on a range of charges through “Special Operation #11,” which was orchestrated by about a dozen police agencies over almost a year-long period, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office announced at a news conference on Friday.
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Eleven police agencies conducted the operation, also called a “Clean Sweep” beginning in July 2014.
The operation came in response to hundreds of community complaints about local drug sales, Sheriff Kenneth Lansing said.
He said the operation was reminiscent of large scale interagency efforts that used to happen more frequently before budget and personnel cuts.
The agencies shared information and resources with each other to help identify and charge the suspects, Lansing said.
Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick said, “I know better than most the toll that drug use and abuse can take on a family.”
He said that police efforts combined with treatment and prevention programs can help restore people’s trust in Ithaca.
“The loss of quality of life has been happening in the community for some time,” he said.
Law enforcement identified suspects wanted in crimes that included:
— Criminal possession of controlled substance with intent to sell
— A murder warrant (identified as Vincent Bean, who was arrested in August 2014)
— Local criminal court warrants
— Probation violations
— Burglaries
— Petit thefts from retailers
— Criminal sales of controlled substance
“An operation like this shows the ability of multiple agencies to work together, through economical strain, widespread law enforcement criticism and the daily challenges of the profession in order to protect the community,” Sheriff Lansing said in a statement.
Officials released the names of 21 of the 33 suspects identified during the operation. The excluded names have cases pending.
Rufus “Esso” Lomax, 39, of Dryden
-Parole warrant and felonies for criminal possession of a controlled substance 4 ounces or more and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance
Farida Gurbanova, 24, of Ithaca
-Second-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor second-degree criminal impersonation
Sarah Monroe, 34, of Dryden
-Felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
Dennis “Life” Livingston, 36, of Queens and Ithaca
-Felonies for three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance , third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor for second-degree criminal use of a controlled substance
LaRocke House, 35, of Ithaca
-Pled to felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and is awaiting sentencing
Brandon Peckham, 22, of Ithaca
-Felonies for third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree attempted burglary.
Whitley Taylor, 33, of Ithaca
-Felonies for second-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Donald Lee, 32, of Dryden
-Felonies for criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, , second-degree burglary and a misdemeanor for fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Brian Strong, 32, of Dryden
-Felonies for third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second-degree burglary and a misdemeanor for fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Christopher “Brownie” Brown, 35, of Ulysses
– Sentenced to five years in prison and two years post-release supervision for felony third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and 1.5 to three years for felony second-degree attempted assault.
Gary “G” Kurbanov, 22, of Ithaca
-Felony for third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon and cash forfeiture
Jovan Monk, 30, of Ithaca
-Felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Dan Yetsko, 30, of Ithaca
-Felonies for six counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance
Brandon “B Man” Whyte, 28, of Ithaca
– Felonies for three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and cash forfeiture
Corbin “CC” Whyte, 30, of Ithaca
-Felony second-degree criminal mischief, misdemeanor reckless driving and parole violation warrant in Florida
Lawrence Haskins, 59, of Ulysses
-Fugitive from Justice Warrant from California
Vincent “Millz” L. Bean, 20, of Ithaca
-Murder warrant from Rochester N.Y.
Bruce Ferguson, 39, of Queens
-Felonies for third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a violation for unlawful possession of marijuana
Javon Delfyette, 30, of Brooklyn
-Felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
Naquan Stevenson, 28, Brooklyn
-Felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
Angelo “True” LeGrand, 39, of Groton
-Misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a warrant from Ithaca Police
This news is breaking and a press conference is ongoing. We will be providing updates.