Two residents from Tompkins and Cayuga counties are among 17 people charged in a sweeping drug trafficking investigation announced by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Heather R. Sharpsteen of Groton and Amanda L. Valenti of Genoa were indicted as part of a Central New York drug ring that allegedly distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine across multiple counties.
The case, led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), is one of the largest fentanyl seizures in state history. In total, investigators recovered:
- 23+ pounds of fentanyl — enough to cause millions of deadly overdoses
- 12+ pounds of methamphetamine
- Nearly 4 pounds of cocaine
- Three illegal firearms
- $880,000 in drug proceeds
The network operated from September 2024 through May 2025 and was allegedly run by Jaquan “Flame” Jones of Syracuse. Authorities say he used coded messages to coordinate bulk drug sales, often arranging for customers to meet at a shared location to receive their orders.
Sharpsteen and Valenti among accused dealers
Sharpsteen and Valenti are accused of participating in the distribution operation by selling drugs obtained through the network. Sharpsteen, 39, and Valenti, 41, were among several regional dealers supplied by Jones and his associates.
Investigators say Sharpsteen’s associates in the ring — including partners in Bridgeport and Freeville — handled large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and meth, distributing them across Tompkins and surrounding counties.
Valenti’s specific role wasn’t detailed in the public complaint, but she faces felony charges related to criminal sale and possession of controlled substances.
Attorney General: Deadly drugs off the streets
“These individuals were trafficking quantities of fentanyl capable of mass destruction,” said Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley. “Their arrests send a clear message that we will not tolerate this.”
Attorney General James echoed that statement: “Thanks to the hard work of this investigation, we took more than five million deadly doses of fentanyl off our streets. I will continue to use every resource at my disposal to put an end to these destructive drug trafficking rings.”
Part of larger crackdown
This case is part of the AG’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) initiative, which has now removed over 1,000 alleged drug traffickers from communities across New York since 2017.
The charges against Sharpsteen, Valenti, and the other defendants are accusations at this stage. All are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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