NORWICH – Following up on leads from a recent drug raid, officers from the Norwich Police Department discovered a 2004 Mercedes Benz coupe, guns and over $25,000 worth of cocaine in a storage unit owned by one of the suspected narcotic dealers who were arrested in late March.
“At 6 p.m. on Friday police obtained a search warrant for a storage unit along County Road 32 in the Town of Norwich in connection to the arrest of two suspect drug dealers March 27,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
In the storage unit, police found the Mercedes sports car and inside it uncovered three loaded fire arms, a Tec-9 machine pistol with a large capacity magazine, a .357 revolver and a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Also inside the vehicle was over around half a pound of crack cocaine in shrink wrap.
“The street value of the cocaine seized is more than $25,000,” said Deputy Police Chief Rodney Marsh. Marsh also noted that the three weapons recovered had their serial numbers filed off them.
Police said the storage unit belong to 20-year-old Curissa Jenkins of 31 Hickok Ave., Norwich.
Jenkins was arrested March 27 with her boyfriend, 28-year-old Michael Victor. Prosecutors claim both defendants lived at the 31 Hickok Ave. apartment, although Victor’s attorney has disputed the claim.
The couple were the target of a multi-agency police drug bust and investigators contend that the two kept two separate apartments in the city of Norwich – one where they lived and another allegedly used as a front to store and sell narcotics.
Police raided both locations in a daybreak tactical entry, breaking down doors and brandishing weapons.
Police found the couple sleeping at the Hickok Ave. apartment and discovered a stash of illegal substances and paraphernalia at the 72 Plymouth St. apartment. Police also found a loaded shotgun next to the couple’s bed at Hickok Ave.
Following the raid Victor and Jenkins were charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a Class B felony), third degree criminal possession of marijuana (a Class E felony) and second degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, (misdemeanor). Victor was also charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon (misdemeanor).
Chenango County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard M. Cobb said that Jenkins would now have additional charges filed against her for the items found in the storage unit.
The office has now charged her with second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a Class A-II felony) and second and third degree criminal possession of a weapon (Class C and D felonies respectively).
“An A-II felony is the second highest charge one can face in New York State and used to carry a mandatory life sentence, but due to certain, recent charges in New York State drug laws, that requirement is no longer the same and has been reduced,” said District Attorney Joseph A. McBride. McBride said he did not know the exact number of years the charge could carry but said it was “ very significant.”
Prosecutors have also raised issued with Victor’s legal residency and claim he may be an illegal alien. Federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials in Buffalo had requested that the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office hold him pending their investigation.
In additional to the new drugs discovered at the storage unit, the couple is accused of possessing 11 ounces of marijuana and an unknown amount of crack cocaine found at the Plymouth Street residence.
Ed Sipel is the 72 Plymouth St. apartment’s landlord and owner. He reported that Jenkins’ name was on the lease, and that she had only moved a month before she was arrested.
Victor is currently in the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $200,000 cash bail.
Jenkins has been remanded to the facility in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.