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 White Plains, NY - The Westchester County District Attorney's office announced that a forty one three count indictment was handed up against Peter Byrne, 25, of Yonkers, New York, Anthony Gonzalez, 26, of Yonkers, New York and Tasha Lewis, 27, of Yonkers, New York in connection with the sale of narcotics and operating a dog fighting ring.
The indictment charges Byrne with:
- four Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, in the Third Degree, class “B” Felonies,
- eleven Counts of Prohibition of Dog Fighting, class “E” Felonies,
- fifteen Counts of Overdriving Torturing, Injuring Animals, Class “A” Misdemeanors,
- one Count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, a Class “A” Misdemeanor,
- two Counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class “A” Misdemeanors,
- one Count of Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, a Class “A” Misdemeanor.
The indictment charges Gonzalez with:
- three Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, in the Third Degree, class “B” Felonies,
- one Count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, in the Third Degree, a class “B” Felony.
The indictment charges Lewis with:
- two Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, in the Third Degree, class “B” Felonies,
- one Count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, in the Seventh Degree, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
- two Counts of Criminal Facilitation, in the Fourth Degree, class “A” Misdemeanors,
- one Count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, a Class “A” Misdemeanor,
- two Counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class “A” Misdemeanors.
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 States 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.
The defendants were arraigned on the indictment this morning. Bail was set at $150,000 for Byrne, $100,000 for Gonzalez and $5,000 for Lewis.
Gonzalez faces a maximum of twelve years in state prison on the top count of the indictment. Byrne and Lewis each face a maximum of nine years in prison on the top count of the indictment.
The Narcotics Bureau will prosecute the case.
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