ALBANY, NY – Another cog in the Upstate New York drug machine is headed to federal prison. Todd Austin, 64, of Gloversville, New York, received a 78-month sentence Friday for running methamphetamine through the Capital District. The feds say Austin was slinging serious weight – more than 500 grams of pure meth – from his residence.
The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, and USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. According to court documents, Austin sourced his poison from an Albany supplier between March and July 2023, then pushed it onto the streets of Gloversville. Judge Anne M. Nardacci tacked on a 3-year supervised release term to follow Austin’s prison stay.
Austin wasn’t working alone. This bust is part of a larger investigation that’s already brought down several others. Andrew Deleon is already doing 72 months, with another 3 years on the books after release. Stefanie Plass got 24 months, followed by supervised release. Ahmad Burke received a relatively light 14 months, also with 3 years to follow. Keisha Duboise, Flor Arencibia, and Melissa Karwan are still awaiting their fates, with sentencing dates set for September 30, 2025, December 4, 2025, and November 24, 2025, respectively.
“Methamphetamine is a terrible drug that has plagued Upstate New York communities,” Sarcone stated bluntly. “We are fighting back.” DEA’s Tarentino echoed that sentiment, vowing to continue targeting those profiting from the “poison” and dismantling trafficking organizations. The USPIS highlighted their role in intercepting drugs shipped through the mail, sending a warning to anyone trying to exploit the postal system.
The investigation, spearheaded by the DEA and USPIS, is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF focuses on taking down the highest-level criminal organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua R. Rosenthal are handling the prosecution. Two defendants, Felix Arencibia and Christian Mur-Santana, still face charges, and, as always, are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This isn’t just about one man or one town. It’s a small victory in a long war against the flood of methamphetamine choking communities across the Northern District of New York. The feds are promising more arrests and more prison time for anyone foolish enough to peddle this filth. Those looking for more info on OCDETF can check out their website: https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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