Seven people from the central New York state area were recently arrested after a drug sweep reportedly uncovered evidence that they sold, possessed or sold and possessed drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and heroin. Many of the people who were arrested have now been charged with felonies. If they are convicted, may have to spend a long time behind bars.

One defendant, a 19-year-old woman from Clyde, now faces accusations that she possessed and sold cocaine. She has been charged with two counts of third-degree sale of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. All five of those charges are felonies. If she is convicted, she will face up to 18 years in prison. If it is true that she did possess and sell drugs, then that was wrong of her. Even if it is true, however, it is unfortunate that someone so young now may lose out on many of life's biggest opportunities because of one mistake.

Another defendant, a 28-year-old man from Auburn, has been charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third=degree criminal possession of a control substance because police allegedly uncovered evidence that he had sold and possessed cocaine. If he is found guilty, he could spend up to 24 years in prison.

The seven people were arrested after the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, state police, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office teamed up to catch unsuspecting drug users and sellers.

Source: The Syracuse Post-Standard, "Seven charged with selling drugs in Cayuga County," John Mariani, Dec. 14, 2011