Five people arrested following drug bust in New York

NEW YORK — Five people were arrested following a drug bust in Cohoes on Friday, with authorities seizing multiple drugs and thousands of dollars in cash, according to the Cohoes Police Department.

Each suspect faces multiple felony charges.

The operation, conducted by the Cohoes Police Department and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit, involved an early morning search warrant at 99 Johnston Avenue.

Officers reportedly discovered approximately 0.4 ounces of cocaine, 0.2 ounces of fentanyl, 0.6 ounces of pressed Adderall, and 0.1 ounces of pressed oxycodone.

Additionally, police said they found $4,591 in cash, along with drug packaging materials and a scale.

Suspects and Charges

The following individuals were arrested in connection to the investigation:

• Keijon Williams, 28, of Cohoes
  • Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell (Class B felony)
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug (Class C felony)
  • Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia – packaging (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia – scales (Class A misdemeanor)
• Nicholas Sapienza, 36, of Cohoes
  • Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance – 10 grams stimulant (Class A felony)
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug (Class C felony)
  • Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia – scales (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
• Joshua Temple, 33, of Cohoes
  • Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance – 10 grams stimulant (Class A felony)
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug (Class C felony)
  • Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia – scales (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
• Audrianna Jones, 34, of Cohoes
  • Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance – 10 grams stimulant (Class A felony)
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug (Class C felony)
  • Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia – scales (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
• Heather Billingsley, 54, of Colonie
  • Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance – 10 grams stimulant (Class A felony)
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug (Class C felony)
  • Second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia – scales (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)

Additional Criminal History

Authorities stated that all five suspects have connections to other criminal cases or ongoing investigations.

Joshua Temple is currently on Albany County probation and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his arrest.

He is wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police in Clifton Park for third-degree robbery, the Menands Police Department for failure to appear on a DWI charge, and the Watervliet Police Department for failure to appear on a petit larceny charge.

Audrianna Jones is wanted by the North Greenbush Police Department for failure to appear on a petit larceny charge.

Nicholas Sapienza is wanted by the Waterford Police Department for failing to appear on a seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance charge.

Heather Billingsley is currently on New York State parole for a grand larceny conviction.

Following the arrests, Cohoes Code Enforcement shut down the second-floor apartment at 99 Johnston Avenue. All suspects are currently being held in Cohoes City Court pending arraignment.