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 White Plains, NY - The Westchester County District Attorney's office announced that Peter Byrne of 34 Alida Street, Yonkers, New York, plead guilty today to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and two counts of Prohibition of Animal Fighting in connection with the procession of narcotics and operating a dog fighting ring.
Tasha Lewis of 34 Alida Street, Yonkers, New York plead guilty today to one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
The third defendant Anthony Gonzalez of 2A Garfield Street, Yonkers, New York remains charged with three Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and one Count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance.
On March 4, 2008, Yonkers Police, upon conducting surveillance at 34 Alida Street observed a black Dodge Ram truck registered to Byrne's girlfriend, Tasha Lewis, operated by Anthony Gonzalez leave the premises with Peter Byrne as the front seat passenger.
In the vicinity of Agar Street and Saw Mill River Road, Yonkers, the Police observed Anthony Gonzalez exchange crack cocaine for money from a buyer. The buyer fled; however, in fleeing he threw his crack purchase to the ground which was recovered by the Yonkers Police.
The Yonkers Police stopped the truck and arrested the defendants for the sale.
The Police then obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and Byrne's residence. After execution of the search warrant, Police found more crack cocaine in a dog house located in the backyard. Additionally, $15,980 in United State currency was found.
Police also uncovered a dog fighting ring - a 3 foot high plexi-glass enclosure, a variety of veterinary pharmaceuticals and muscle-enhancement substances, hypodermic instruments and IV-tubing, two dog treadmills as well as other tools used in the training of dogs to fight.
The Police obtained an additional search warrant for the detached garage in which they found 15 pit bull dogs each of which displayed numerous bites and puncture wounds consistent with being fought against other dogs. The dogs were living in squalor and emaciated. Five of the dogs required extended veterinary care.
Sentencing for Byrne and Lewis will be on January 15th, 2009.
Byrne faces a maximum of nine years in prison. Lewis faces one year in County Jail.
Gonzalez’ next court date is on November 17th, 2008.
Gonzalez faces a maximum of twelve years in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Luzio, Chief of the Narcotics Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Mary Ann Liebowitz of the Narcotics Bureau are prosecuting the cases.
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