UTICA, NEW YORK – In a crushing blow to the Capital Region’s illicit drug trade, 38-year-old Joseph Lastrina of Norwalk, Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Lastrina’s conviction is the latest in a series of high-profile arrests and guilty pleas stemming from a DEA investigation that has netted a total of three defendants so far.
According to court records, Lastrina directed both Thaddeus Price, 47, of Albany, and Robert Sanger, 59, of Rensselaer, New York, to complete drug deals that he arranged in November 2022. Those transactions collectively involved 177 grams of pure methamphetamine.
A search warrant executed at Sanger’s home in May 2023 led to the recovery of an additional 217 grams of pure methamphetamine. The charges to which the three men plead guilty carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The DEA investigation, led by Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, is ongoing, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Reiner and Ashlyn Miranda prosecuting the case.
Lastrina’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the region, who have been working tirelessly to dismantle the methamphetamine trade and keep communities safe.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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