"Operation Babcock" nets 24 arrests

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced the arrest of 24 people in a wide-ranging drug trafficking probe dubbed “Operation Babcock."

The AG’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York State Police narcotics C-Net unit were investigating drug trafficking in Erie, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Genesee Counties. The South Buffalo Babcock neighborhood is where much of the investigation was focused.

Lawmen seized several kilograms of cocaine and $58,500 in cash during the course of the probe.

"Operation Babcock has led to the arrests of dozens of individuals who infiltrated the streets of Western New York with large quantities of illegal drugs," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "With our partners in law enforcement, we will continue to crackdown on these drug networks to rid our neighborhoods from the infestation of these dangerous narcotics.”

The year-long undercover investigation revealed Richard Himbury, of Tonawanda NY, as one of the major suppliers in the Buffalo area.

Another defendant, Laurie Kozakowski, has been a toll collector, employed by the New York State Thruway Authority, for the past 10 years. The investigation revealed that Kozakowski bought large amounts of cocaine from suppliers in South Buffalo and brought it to Batavia where she re-sold the drugs.

Kozakowski is charged with an A1 felony which carries a penalty of eight to 20 years in prison, if convicted.

The first indictment is 95 counts and charges 22 defendants with Conspiracy, as well as Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. The second indictment charges three defendants with Conspiracy, Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.

>> See their mug shots here!

Defendants (Hometown, Age) :

ROB ALESSI                                      West Seneca, NY, 29

RASHEEM ALSTON                           Buffalo, NY, 36

MICHAEL BANKS                              Buffalo, NY, 36

JESSE BONNER                                Buffalo, NY, 38

JOSEPH BONNER                              Buffalo, NY, 26

MANUEL BRACERO                          Buffalo, NY, 20

SCOTT BUSH                                    Buffalo, NY, 50

JULIENE BYHAM                              Buffalo, NY, 29

MARK COUSINS                               Buffalo, NY, 21

KEVIN DEAN                                     Buffalo, NY, 21

DANIEL DRISCOLL                            Buffalo, NY, 26

PATRICK DRISCOLL                          Buffalo, NY, 25

DANIEL FINO                                     Lackawanna, NY, 26

WESLEY FISH                                   Buffalo, NY, 25

GREGORY GIOIA                              West Seneca, NY, 22

RICHARD HIMBURY                         Tonawanda, NY, 40

RICHARD ISCH                                 East Aurora, NY, 24

LAURIE KOZAKOWSKI                        Batavia, NY, 41

DAVID LINK                                         Tonawanda, NY,42

JUSTIN MILLS                                       Depew, NY, 32

SEAN RANSFORD                                Buffalo, NY, 22

ANTHONY "MUGGS" SARGENTE        Buffalo, NY, 24

MICHAEL SYLVIA                                Buffalo, NY, 25

JOSEPH SANNA                                  Buffalo, NY, 43