James L. Pitts Jr., a 28-year-old resident of Hornell, was taken into custody on Aug. 30 after police intercepted a package containing over one pound of cocaine meant for delivery to his home.
The Hornell Police Department detailed that the arrest ensued from a controlled mail delivery operation and a subsequent search of Pitts’s residence, which unveiled the narcotics and other contraband items.
Pitts now faces charges of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-I felony that comes with a minimum sentence of 15 years. He is currently detained at the Steuben County Jail awaiting his preliminary court hearing in CAP court.
The inquiry, which remains active, is a collaborative effort involving the New York State Police, the Hornell Police Department, United States Postal Service Inspectors, the Elmira Police Department, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities are pursuing additional leads and potential accomplices.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].