NEW YORK, NY (607NewsNow) – Four locals are among those facing charges in a Central New York drug trafficking ring investigation.

On October 7, Attorney General Letitia James announced 17 people have been indicted on a total of 125 crimes for their alleged roles in purchasing and distributing drugs in Tompkins, Cortland, Onondaga, Oneida, and Madison Counties.

The investigation, led by James’ Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), began in September 2024 and concluded in May 2025. Officers seized over 23 pounds of fentanyl, nearly four pounds of cocaine, and more than 12 pounds of methamphetamine, which have a combined street value of approximately $780,000. Additionally, $880,000 cash and three firearms were also seized.

Some of the narcotics seized in the investigation. Credit: ag.ny.gov

According to James’ office, the amount of fentanyl recovered, which was OCTF’s largest single seizure of the drug, is enough to kill one New Yorker every six seconds for a year.

“Traffickers who flood our communities with fentanyl and other drugs are threatening the important progress New York has made in reducing overdoses and fighting the opioid crisis,” said James. “Thanks to the hard work of this investigation and our law enforcement partners, we took more than five million deadly doses of fentanyl off our streets. I will continue to use every resource at my disposal to put an end to these destructive drug trafficking rings and keep New Yorkers safe from dangerous narcotics.”

The investigation centered around 31-year-old Syracuse man Jaquan “Flame” Jones, who is accused of purchasing large amounts of drugs from Antonio Sanchez, of New Rochelle. Jones then supplied the drugs to a network of dealers in CNY, including Tyler Forshee, 30, of Cortland, Joshua Goyette, 47, of Freeville, Heather Sharpsteen, 39, of Groton, and Amanda Valenti, 41, of Genoa.

Some of the narcotics seized in the investigation. Credit: ag.ny.gov

Jones is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a mandatory life sentence in state prison.

James credits the bust to the Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (S.U.R.G.E.) Initiative, which brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York’s growing hard drug trafficking networks. Launched in 2017, SURGE has removed 1,008 alleged traffickers from the streets.

Read more from James’ Office here.

Individuals Charged

  • Etiem Berrios, 45, Syracuse
  • Chase Cahoon, 39, Rome
  • Cory Ching, 32, Poland
  • Ronnie Evanciew, 29, Taberg
  • Tyler Forshee, 30, Cortland
  • Joshua Goyette, 47, Freeville
  • Jaquan Jones, 31, Syracuse
  • Gary Jordan, 53, Rome
  • Cody Lane, 29, Rome
  • Nicole Lighthall, 29, Forestport
  • Alexander Medina, 24, Syracuse
  • Antonio Sanchez, 37, New Rochelle
  • Autumn Schneider, 28, Bridgeport
  • Heather Sharpsteen, 39, Groton
  • Joshua Stimpson, 29, Bridgeport
  • Zachary Thornhill, 36, Liverpool
  • Amanda Valenti, 41, Genoa