Drug busts in Columbia County nets 7 arrests; drugs, cash, electronics seized

A massive multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking in Columbia County has resulted in seven arrests.

Drug and crime investigators from state and local agencies simultaneously executed search warrants in Philmont and in Craryville at around 9 p.m. last Wednesday, March 4th.

Police seized 53 grams of crack cocaine, 25 bags of heroin packaged for sale and 123 grams of marijuana, in addition to $4,400 in cash and drug sales paraphernalia, said Lt. James Andrews of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

They also seized five flat screen televisions, computers and various other electronic game consoles and devices; investigators say these items will analyzed to determine if they were stolen and if they were used to help traffic drugs.

Police say they were forced to shoot a pitbull/mastiff dog when it attacked a member of the SWAT team at the Philmont bust; the dog died, was removed by the sheriff's office and turned over to a person associated with the apartment the next day.

Arrested and charged in the drug bust at Philmont apartment were a 17-year-old male and 27-year-old Robert Perez for drug possession charges. Both were sent to Columbia County Jial.

Arrested and charged in the bust at the Craryville trailer home were 41-year-old Carol Babjeck, 50-year-old Darci-Jo Gibeau, 50-year-old Edward Gibeau and 26-year-old Elizabeth Winters, all from the Taconic Meadows Mobile Home Park on Route 23.

Police say the four adults were smoking crack cocaine in the room with three small children. The four have been charged with child endangerment, drug possession and unlawful loitering to use a controlled substance. They were arraigned and sent to the Columbia County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

Also arrested at the Taconic Meadows Mobile Home Park was 29-year-old Jose Sanchez on federal drug possession charges. Sanchez was turned over the custody of US Marshals at the Albany County Jail, and is expected to be prosecuted federally.

(Sparks's mug shot has been the only one sent by police thus far.)