Two people were arrested on federal charges and three others are expected to face state charges after a raid Thursday at an alleged methamphetamine lab in the village by the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The five suspects were found in the process of manufacturing a small quantity of methamphetamine in an apartment and placed under arrest, Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond said.
The amount of substance seized will not be known until results come back from the DEA’s laboratories.
Authorities said no money was confiscated at the site.
Three of the people, whose names were not revealed, were released but are expected to face charges, according to the DEA.
The other two, husband and wife Todd Diamond Sr., 41, and Loreen Diamond, 38, are being charged with conspiracy and manufacturing methamphetamine and are being held without bail.
The couple had recently moved back to Schoharie County after being in Kentucky. They were not living in the apartment, but had been staying with friends and family since their return, said DEA Special Agent in Charge John Gilbride.
Todd Diamond Sr., has a lengthy criminal record that includes narcotics, according to DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge James Burns.
Burns said methamphetamine has been on the rise, and that there have been 21 methamphetamine busts in New York so far this year. There were 31 last year, and it is likely that that number will be surpassed this year, he said.
“Unfortunately it seems to go in a wave from the West Coast to the East Coast, and they’re starting to come up more,” Burns said.
Members of the community alerted the sheriff’s department to the rise in availability of methamphetamine in the area, which prompted the investigation.
“The unique thing was the cooperation with the citizens,” Undersheriff Ronald Stevens said. “There were a lot of concerned citizens who provided information.”
Officials urged the public to come forward if they have knowledge or information about any methamphetamine lab or other drug-related activities.
Categories: Schenectady County
