8 arrested in major Newfield methamphetamine bust

Featured photo by Brian Turner of Flickr. 


ITHACA, N.Y. — In a packed courtroom Thursday, eight people were arraigned on felony drug charges stemming from a Tuesday night drug bust in the town of Newfield.

Police said a search warrant was issued at 36 Bishop Road, 106 Ward Heights North, and 712 Ward Blvd East as the result of a lengthy investigation into methamphetamine manufacturing and trafficking.

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Seven people were arraigned in front of  Ithaca City Court Judge Scott Miller, who was appointed acting Tompkins County Court Judge with limited jurisdiction. Each person had a different attorney. Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bonavia prosecuted the cases.

Several factors were considered when bail was issued including previous criminal history, ties to the community, employment, court jurisdiction and some consideration to the weight of the preliminary evidence against people.

During court proceedings, it was reveled that at least three children were at one of the homes when the drug raids happened.

The following people have been charged as a result of the investigation and all are due back in court Tuesday for a felony preliminary hearing and bail review:

Corey C. Woodward, 29

- - Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

-- Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance ( AII Felony)

Person knowingly had one more substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and such substances weighed more than two ounces

-- Third-degree unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine (D Felony)

Person has two or more pieces of laboratory equipment and two or more precursors, chemical reagents or solvents with the intent to make methamphetamine

Remanded to the Tompkins County Jail without bail

Amanda Chaffee, 32

-- Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia ( A Misdemeanor)

Person knowingly had digital scales for the purpose of weighing methamphetamine

-- Seventh- degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (A Misdemeanor)

Person had hollowed out pen with residual methamphetamine in it

-- Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

Remanded to the Tompkins County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond

Louis G. Parker, 44

-- Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (AII Felony)
Person knowingly had one more substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and such substances weighed more than two ounces

- - Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

-- Third-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine ( D Felony)
Person has two or more pieces of laboratory equipment and two or more precursors, chemical reagents or solvents with the intent to make methamphetamine

Remanded to the Tompkins County Jail without bail

Katie L. Adams, 33

- - Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

- - Second-degree criminal possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material (A misdemeanor)

Person had pseudoephedrine pills with the intent to use or allow another person to use them to produce, prepare or manufacture methamphetamine

Released to Day Reporting

Thomas M. Chaffee, 52

- - Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

- - Second-degree criminal possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material (A misdemeanor)

Person had pseudoephedrine pills with the intent to use or allow another person to use them to produce, prepare or manufacture methamphetamine

Remanded to the Tompkins County Jail without bail

Debra S. Buck, 52

- - Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

- - Second-degree criminal possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material (A misdemeanor)

Person had pseudoephedrine pills with the intent to use or allow another person to use them to produce, prepare or manufacture methamphetamine

Remanded to the Tompkins County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond

William T. Pelto, 30

- - Second-degree conspiracy (B Felony)

Person agreed to purchase, possess, transfer and/or process pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and subsequently having more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil

- - Second-degree criminal possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material (A misdemeanor)

Person had pseudoephedrine pills with the intent to use or allow another person to use them to produce, prepare or manufacture methamphetamine

Remanded to the Tompkins County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond

Kenneth Benjamin, 36

-- Second-degree Aggravated unlicensed operation (Unclassified Misdemeanor)

He was released at the Ithaca City Court Thursday. He was not arraigned with other defendants. 

The investigation was the result of a joint effort between Ithaca Police Department, New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, Special Operation Response Team, and Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team.

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