Residents of the Parkside Commons complex on Syracuse’s near east side are relieved after police shut down a sophisticated drug trafficking ring. A four-month investigation by Syracuse Police and the county district attorney’s office culminated Wednesday with the execution of a search warrant at two apartments. Five people are in custody on multiple drugs charges. Senior assistant DA Alphonse Williams said the suspects disabled the security system so they could conduct business more efficiently.
“The surveillance would say, 'hey, this person's here, this persons there,'" Williams said. "The allegations are that they have distinct operating hours, so as long as a customer shows up at that time, they have unfettered access to the building. They just show up at that storefront and then they can purchase anything that they want.”
Police said they recovered three pounds of cocaine, fentanyl, a ghost gun, $80,000 in cash, walkie-talkies, and numerous cell phones. Williams says residents felt trapped in their building due to the constant drug activity. He said syringes and other drug materials were often found outside the apartments.
“Even if you did a walk through today, you would see drug paraphernalia that little children are tripping over when they're just trying to go to the playground or when they're just trying to go to school," Williams said. "And even when we executed the warrant, there was a little child that was on her way to school that had to see all of this stuff.”
Williams said a toddler and six-year-old were treated for a fentanyl overdose due to exposure to the drug. Police say they’re increasing patrols around Parkside Commons, and the mayor’s office says he is in regular contact with the new owners in a continued effort to improve safety.
Here are the five individuals facing charges, according to Syracuse Police:
- 25-year-old Julio Franco-Osorio
- 42-year-old Jorge Pizarro
- 30-year-old Jean Calderon
- 31-year-old Jesus Orti,
- 33-year-old Victor Medina Parilla
Each has been charged with the following:
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree
- Enterprise Corruption
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree
Julio Franco-Osorio was additionally charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
