Central NY Drug Ring Dismantled: 17 Charged in Historic Fentanyl Seizure

Attorney General Letitia James announced the indictment of 17 defendants for their roles in a drug trafficking ring that distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine throughout Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cortland, and Tompkins counties. The investigation, which spanned September 2024 through May 2025, centered on Jaquan Jones, known as "Flame," who purchased significant quantities of drugs from supplier Antonio Sanchez and distributed them to a sprawling network of dealers across the region.

The seizures from the operation underscore the scale of the criminal enterprise. Law enforcement recovered more than 23 pounds of fentanyl worth approximately $625,000, nearly four pounds of cocaine valued at more than $125,000, and over 12 pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $32,000. Investigators discovered approximately 22 pounds of fentanyl and 12 ounces of cocaine stored in a garage attached to a house in Syracuse. An apartment rented by Sanchez in Onondaga County yielded fentanyl mixed with heroin and ketamine, along with scales, glassine packets, and cutting agents used to dilute the drugs for street distribution.

The fentanyl seizure carries extraordinary public health implications. According to the Attorney General's office, the 23 pounds recovered contains enough fentanyl to kill one New Yorker every six seconds for an entire year. Joshua Stimpson, charged with operating as a major trafficker, worked with partner Autumn Schneider to sell drugs supplied by Jones throughout Oneida and Madison counties, demonstrating how the network distributed across multiple communities.

This takedown marks a significant victory in the state's broader drug enforcement strategy. The operation was conducted under the Office of the Attorney General's S.U.R.G.E. initiative—Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic—which targets trafficking networks in communities outside New York City. The indictment, unsealed Tuesday in Onondaga County Court, charges the 17 defendants with crimes including drug trafficking and weapons possession.