An ongoing investigation into heroin and other illegal drug sales in Delaware County has led to the recent arrests of two local people on sealed grand jury indictments, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office announced Friday.
Arrested on Thursday, July 17 were 31-year-old Gerard Johnson of Walton, who faces charges stemming from the alleged sale of heroin in the village of Walton in June, and 41-year-old Cindy Manon of Arkville, who is accused of selling suboxone in the hamlet of Arkville. Both were arraigned in Delaware County court on Friday and remanded to the Delaware County jail without bail.
Johnson is charged with a single count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. Manon is charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, also a felony.
In 2013, Johnson was convicted in Delaware County court on felony drug and misdemeanor child endangerment charges. If convicted on the current charge, as a repeat felony drug offender, he could face up to 12 years in state prison, police say.
The charges against Manon carry a possible 5 1/2-year sentence on each charge, police say.
In a strongly worded statement issued about the arrests, Delaware County undersheriff Craig DuMond condemned the spread of drug activity in the region.
"We are absolutely committed to work tirelessly to remove drug dealers from our communities in Delaware County," DuMond wrote. "They have no business here, spreading their poison, compromising our safety and ruining our way of life."
DuMond encouraged local residents to report suspected drug activity to the county's tip line at 888-914-9111.
"Tips have been an important part of our investigations and that partnership has been very effective in helping us root dealers out of Delaware County."
