Pair acquitted in Schenectady drug case

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

The final two individuals of 16 charged in a large Schenectady-based drug operation in 2010 were acquitted of charges against them after trial.

The acquittals came after 14 prior guilty pleas in the case, including some that resulted in lengthy prison sentences.

Joseph Toomer, 36 at the time of his October 2010 arrest, and Dennis Ryan, 39 when arrested, were each acquitted of conspiracy.

The federal jury came back with its verdict Friday after a weeklong trial. Toomer was acquitted of both counts against him, while the jury acquitted Ryan of one count and hung on the other.

A prosecutor on Monday said a decision has not been made on whether to retry Ryan on the outstanding count. Attorneys for Toomer and Ryan could not be reached for comment.

Also last week, an admitted member of the operation, Jeffrey McGough Jr., was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.

He pleaded guilty earlier to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.

The indictment was handed up in October 2010, accusing the group of participating in a large Schenectady-based drug operation that once sent more than $42,000 in cash down the Thruway as part of a drug run. The investigation also led to the seizure of 18 long guns and four handguns from a Bradley Street address and more than 1.6 pounds of crack cocaine from a Kings Road address in March 2010, authorities have said.

Jamie Lee Toomer, 27, pleaded guilty to charges last year and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

Also getting 20 years was Jamar Green of New Jersey. Victor Toomer, 26, was sentenced last month as a career offender to more than 15 years in state prison.

Four others have already been sentenced to terms ranging from two to 10 years in prison. Six defendants who have pleaded guilty are awaiting sentencing.

The two suspects who took their cases to trial, Joseph Toomer and Ryan, were accused of taking part in the conspiracy by receiving cocaine or crack cocaine for redistribution. They were also charged with using a telephone to facilitate a drug felony. That was the charge on which the jury deadlocked for Ryan, leaving it open for retrial.