ALBANY, NEW YORK – Susan Salanitri, age 60, of New Paltz, New York, was sentenced today to 2 years of probation, and to pay $307,665 in restitution, for filing false tax returns. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Division, made the announcement. Salanitri, the owner of two restaurants in New Paltz, previously pled guilty to five counts of filing false tax returns. She admitted that during each of the tax years 2015 through 2019, she deliberately underreported her restaurants’ revenues on her individual tax return filed with the IRS, resulting in a total underpayment of taxes in the amount of $307,665. IRS-CI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted this case. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/new-paltz-business-owner-sentenced-filing-false-tax-returns

PRESS RELEASE On November 3, 2023, State Police arrested Steven D. Vitalo, age 29 from Herkimer, NY for Grand Larceny 3rd degree, class “D” felony and Falsifying Business Records 2nd degree, class “A” misdemeanor. Vitalo is charged with not paying for numerous items at Lowes in the town of Herkimer while going through the self-checkout. The total value of items taken is $5,521. It was also discovered that Vitalo would switch bar codes on different items paying significantly less for a specific item. Vitalo was arraigned in Herkimer Town Court and released on his own recognizance (ROR’d). He is scheduled to return to Herkimer Town Court on November 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. nyspnews.com/herkimer-man-arrested-on-grand-larceny-charges.htm

PRESS RELEASE On November 7, 2023, at 2:12 a.m., State Police on patrol stopped a vehicle, a 2017 Acura ILX, on State Route 365 near Blackmans Corners Road in the town of Verona for speeding, 85 in a 55-mph zone. As Troopers began to interview the male driver, later identified as Howard N. Griswold Jr., abruptly rolled the window up and drove off at a high rate of speed. Troopers returned to their patrol vehicle and initiated a traffic pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued east on State Route 365 and then onto Lamphear Road. The operator then drove through a steady red signal at the intersection of State Route 233 and continued onto Rome-Oriskany Road until making a right turn onto Monument Road. The vehicle continued south on Monument Road until taking another right turn onto Sutliff Road and traveling west at a high rate of speed. Troopers lost sight of the suspect vehicle and as they were approaching the intersection of State Route 233, they found the vehicle had crashed into a tree and came to rest on the front lawn of 6405 State Route 233. Griswold, age 24 from Utica, NY was transported by ambulance to Rome Health Hospital and then transferred to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with severe internal injuries. A passenger in the vehicle, 22-year-old Shana Reahoo Chourb from Utica, NY was transported by ambulance to Rome Health Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. State Police were assisted at the scene by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Pursuant to Executive Law Section 70-b, the New York State Attorney General’s Office is investigating the incident in conjunction with the New York State Police and the Oneida County District Attorney’s office. https://www.nyspnews.com/state-police-investigate-fatal-roll-over-crash-in-town-whitestown.htm

On November 9, 2023, at 5:21 P.M., Troopers out of SP Batavia responded to a collision involving a pedestrian State Route 5 in the town of Stafford. Investigation determined that a 2010 GMC Sierra was traveling west bound on State Route 5. The GMC entered the turn lane at Batavia-Stafford Townline Road and stuck James R. Ehmann, 74 of Stafford, NY while he was getting his mail. Paramedics at the scene attempted life saving measures and Ehmann was transported to United Memorial Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. It was determined that the 52-year-old operator of the GMC had no signs of impairment or utilizing an electronic device at the time of the collision. The NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.

PRESS RELEASE On October 30, 2023, State Police of Fonda arrested Jeffery J. Belrose, 55, of Canajoharie, NY, for Grand Larceny in the third degree, a class “D” felony. On October 16, 2023, at about 10:50 a.m. Troopers received a complaint from a Fort Plain, NY, resident that a contractor took money for a home improvement project but never completed the work. The investigation determined Belrose owned and operated "J’s and Sons Construction". Belrose reportedly accepted over $3,000 in May 2023 as a deposit for agreed-upon contracted roof work. Belrose never began the project and failed to return the deposit to the victim. Belrose was arrested and processed at SP Fonda. He was given an appearance ticket returnable to the Minden Town Court on December 14, 2023, and released.

On Monday, November 6, 2023, members of the Rome Police Department Special Investigations Unit, Patrol Division, and Forensics Unit executed a search warrant at Rome Dairy Market LLC, 603 North James St. and Rome Habib Market, 301 Lawrence St in regards to the possession and sale of unstamped/untaxed cigarettes. • At Rome Dairy Market LLC, a quantity of unstamped/untaxed cigarettes was seized, along with a quantity of cannabis products and over 4500 flavored nicotine vapor products. Store employee, Cheikhsid Mohamed Chafi, 33-year-old of Syracuse, was arrested and charged with Possession or Sale of Unstamped Cigarettes and subsequently released with an appearance ticket. • At Rome Habib Market 63 Cartons and 101 loose packs of unstamped/untaxed cigarettes were seized, a quantity of cannabis products, a quantity of US Currency, and about 254 flavored nicotine vape products. Store employee, Abdulrazzaq H. Al-Samet, 47-year-old of Rome, was arrested and charged with Possession of 10,000 cigarettes or more (50 cartons), E-Felony, and subsequently released with an appearance ticket. The Rome Police Department was assisted by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, the Oneida County Health Department, and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. Rome Habib Market was the target of a similar investigation in May of 2023. In that case, the Rome Police Department had executed a search warrant on the Rome Habib Market, at that time a different employee was charged with Possession of 10,000 cigarettes or more (50 cartons) E-Felony. This case is still pending in Oneida County Court. Rome Dairy Mart was also the target of a similar investigation in May of 2023. In that case, a different employee was charged with Possession of untaxed/unstamped cigarettes (A Misdemeanor). This case is still pending in Rome City Court.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Bernabe Lopez, age 58, of Utica, New York, pled guilty yesterday to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office. In pleading guilty yesterday, Lopez admitted that from May 2020 through October 2021, he acquired quantities of fentanyl from co-conspirators, which he then re-distributed to others in the Utica, New York area. Lopez admitted that the combined amount of fentanyl that he distributed during this time frame exceeded 40 grams. Lopez also admitted that during the conspiracy, he sold a cutting agent to member of the conspiracy for $10 a gram knowing that the co-conspirators were adulterating fentanyl with the cutting agent to increase volume for sales. Sentencing is scheduled for February 29, 2024, in front of United States District Judge David N. Hurd. Lopez faces a minimum of 5 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Division, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, New York State Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, Utica Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Rome Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, Yorkville Police Department, Whitesboro Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson. Updated November 2, 2023 https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/utica-man-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-conspiracy-and-distribution-0

On November 2, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., State Police responded to a one-vehicle rollover that occurred on Interstate 81 northbound just north of the Mudd Mill Road overpass. The investigation has determined a 2003 Jeep Liberty, operated by Scott A. Carpenter, age 60 from Hastings, NY was traveling north on I-81 when he drove off the shoulder of the roadway, struck a large DOT sign, and rolled over several times. Carpenter was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. State Police were assisted at the scene by the Brewerton Fire Department and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Air1 helicopter. The investigation is continuing. https://www.nyspnews.com/fatal-i-81-crash-in-town-cicero.htm

PRESS RELEASE Queens, New York – On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, troopers from SP Bronx arrested Pero Drljevic, age 25, of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania, for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 2nd Degree – a class C felony, Illegal Possession of a Vehicle Identification Number – a class E felony and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 3rd Degree – a class A misdemeanor. The troopers were patrolling near the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and conducted a traffic stop on a 2022 Dodge truck, operated by Drljevic, because the vehicle was reported stolen. The investigation revealed Drljevic to be operating a stolen vehicle, and he was subsequently arrested. Drljevic was charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 2nd Degree, Illegal Possession of a Vehicle Identification Number and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 3rd Degree. Drljevic was remanded to Queens County Central Booking pending arraignment. https://www.nyspnews.com/pennsylvania-resident-arrested-after-driving-stolen-vehicle.htm

The Oneida City Police Department is requesting the public's assistance with identifying and locating the pictured individual regarding an incident that occurred at Lowes in Oneida, on Monday, October 16, 2023, at about 6:10 pm. If you know who the pictured individual is, if you may have witnessed the incident, recognize the vehicle, or have any information regarding this incident, please call the Oneida City Police Department at (315) 363-2323. All calls may remain confidential. The case reference number is 23-ON06347 The case being investigated by Ofc. Lenning and you can e-mail him directly with any information at tlenning@oneidacityny.gov.

PRESS RELEASE On November 1st, 2023, at approximately 4:31 p.m., Oneida City Police were dispatched to a reported robbery in progress at Price Chopper, located at 142 Genesee Street. The subject reportedly stole property from Price Chopper and possessed what appeared to be a handgun. Through investigation, the identity of the subject and the vehicle the subject arrived in were quickly identified. Area checks for the subject continued and were performed by multiple law enforcement agencies. At approximately 8:51 p.m., Oneida City Police Patrol Officers observed the vehicle at a local business. Officers approached the occupants of the vehicle and located the subject in question, JOSHUA PARKHURST, 31, of Oneida. JOSHUA PARKHURST was taken into custody without incident. JOSHUA PARKHURST was found to be in possession of a B.B. gun pistol. Through the investigative process, it has been determined that a petit larceny and menacing took place. Joshua Parkhurst has been charged with Menacing 2nd degree and Petit Larceny. He was released on an appearance ticket.

On November 2, 2023, a rededication ceremony was held at the Route 11 bridge in the village of Philadelphia, Jefferson County in honor of Fallen Trooper Joel R. Davis. Members from the New York State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Park Police, Village of Philadelphia Police Department, and the city of Watertown Police Department, along with elected officials and Davis’s family members, attended the ceremony to honor Davis, who was shot and killed in 2017 while responding to a domestic incident in Theresa. State Police Assistant Deputy Superintendent Lt. Col. Darren S. Pitkin spoke at the ceremony about Trooper Davis’s sacrifice. “Law enforcement is a family with a common shared goal to make the world a better place, and Joel Davis was just that type of person. Joel always focused on the extraordinary. On being an extraordinary trooper, on always doing more than what was expected of him at every turn,” Pitkin said. “It is not how Joel died that made him a hero–but how he lived. When gunfire erupted, Joel ran towards danger and saved the lives of a mother and her two small children. Joel lived to make a difference in this world, and he died as he lived, defending freedom, safeguarding peace, and preserving justice.” “The rededication of this bridge today serves as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that Joel Davis made on the evening of July 9, 2017. Joel might not be here physically, today, but his spirit and memory live on in all of us,” he added. State Assemblyman Scott A. Gray also praised Davis’s outstanding character. “Joel was known for his professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public safety. He stood as the epitome of honor and duty,” Gray said. “Trooper Davis’s legacy extends far beyond his heroic actions on that fateful day. He leaves behind a loving family. His wife Suzanne, and their three children, Trenton, Caden, and Jaila. His parents, Randy and Mary, his brother Josh, and all who will carry his memory in their hearts,” Gray said. “His fellow troopers, law enforcement professionals, and the community he served will always remember him as a remarkable hero with courage and character.” The more than $4 million project replaced the bridge built in the 1950s.