Two local women charged in major drug trafficking ring

GREENE COUNTY―Two local women are among 26 people charged in what New York Attorney General Letitia James called the takedown of a major drug trafficking ring in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley.

Brenda Patterson, 59, of Earlton, and Nicole Alberts, 30, of Ravena, are named along with 24 other defendants in a 276-count indictment unsealed Thursday in Albany County Court.

According to James, the drug trafficking operation was active in Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Ulster, and Westchester Counties.

The investigation was led by the Attorney General’s Office Organized Crime Task Force in partnership with New York State Police, Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office and Bethlehem Police Department. The year-long investigation included covert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps over more than two dozen target phones, aimed at rooting out heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine dealers operating in the Capital Region and elsewhere in the state, James said.

The investigation allegedly recovered more than five kilograms of cocaine and approximately 1.2 kilograms of heroin laced with fentanyl, which has a combined potential street value of approximately $350,000. In addition, five handguns were reportedly seized along with approximately $67,000 in cash.

“These traffickers were flooding our communities with cocaine and a deadly combination of heroin and fentanyl. As New York continues its fight against the opioid crisis, my office will use every tool at its disposal to get dangerous narcotics off our streets. I thank our law enforcement partners for their work in this successful investigation,” said James.

The central figure in the alleged distribution network was Jahrell Friday, 39, of Albany, who authorities said partnered with others to sell heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the area.

Friday allegedly made sales in his home, as well as in local parking lots and hotel rooms. The defendants used code words when communicating, including “Fernando” for fentanyl and “dog food” or “food” to refer to heroin, authorities said.

“This substantial investigation unveiled numerous individuals distributing deadly drugs without any regard for who might purchase them or the intended use. There is no doubt that by intercepting these dangerous acts, lives have been saved,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.

The indictment charges the defendants with various counts of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance―class A, B, C, D felonies―as well as second-degree conspiracy, a class B felony.

All defendants are scheduled to appear in Albany County Court.