CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango County Court was in session on Friday, March 25, to decide the next step in a case regarding the alleged sale of heroin in the City of Norwich.
Fitim R. Latifi, 32, of Sheldon Street in the City of Norwich, was arrested on August 28, 2015. Latifi was picked up by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office for an active arrest warrant issued by the Chenango County Court. The warrant was issued following a sealed indictment presented to a grand jury on August 28, 2015.
Latifi had been under investigation for some time before being picked up for the sale of heroin, according to a press release.
Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives, road patrol deputies, and members of the Norwich Police Department located Latifi at his residence on Sheldon St. in the City of Norwich. He was indicted on four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, all class B felonies.
It is alleged that Latifi sold heroin within the Norwich area on at least four separate occasions.
Latifi was arraigned in the City of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility at that time in lieu of $25,000 cash bail, or $50,000 bond.
Latifi has been released from the CCCF as of Friday's court date as he has posted the bond amount.
Based on The Evening Sun archives, Latifi has a criminal history in the area. In 2008, Latifi, then 25 and living in Sherburne, was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility after he was arrested for allegedly stabbing a family member. He was charged with first degree assault (a felony) and third degree possession of a weapon. Norwich City Police responded to the scene in the City of Norwich, where they found a family member with a stab wound to the leg.
Latifi also has charges on his rap sheet which include disorderly conduct, grand larceny, petit larceny and multiple harassment charges.
Judge James E. Downey presided over the matter this past Friday. While First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese was present on behalf of the community.
Latifi was represented by his attorney, Alyssa Congdon.
“The proposed disposition is he would plead to the top count. We (DA's Office) asked for eight years, but the court holds itself to five years with two years post release. The maximum sentence could be 12 years. I just want to make sure he (Latifi) understands this,” said Ferrarese.
As Ferrarese stated, the court was prepared to sentence Latifi to the sentence of five years if he entered a guilty plea to the top charge which was criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony.
Latifi chose not to accept the plea bargain and asked for the matter to move to trial.
“Trial, society moves to the front of the court. The facts will come out, and all the things in the shadows come out to the full stare of the sunlight,” said Judge Downey.
The date for Latifi's trial is unsure as a jury trial is already scheduled for this term. The defense is also seeking to schedule possible pre-trial hearings.
Downey insisted that the defense has 10 days to schedule hearings that could suppress or dismiss information on this case.
Further, Judge Downey pushed for the matter to be set down as soon as possible.
As of Monday morning, March 28, there has been no court date selected.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Downey.