Two Charged With

Selling Coke In Oneonta

ONEONTA – A man and a woman were each charged with selling cocaine in Oneonta in what Lt. Douglas Brenner describes as “an upswing” in the drug’s sale.

“For the past two years, we’ve seen cocaine creeping back into Oneonta,” he said. “We try to keep an eye on trends.”

Freddie L. Sampson, 44, Brooklyn, was arrested Sept 8. and charged with five counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class B felony, four for selling cocaine and one for hydrocodone.

In the second case, Mackenzie K. Bissell, 26, Oneonta, was arrested by city police Aug. 12 and charged with one count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in connection with a sale of cocaine.  Additionally, she was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation on a sealed indictment.

“With so much attention being given to opiates, people who are addicted to drugs in general are staying away from heroin and prescriptions,” said Brenner.  “Five years ago, cocaine was almost off the radar, but in the last two years, we’ve started to see it again. ”

The maximum penalty of a conviction on a class B felony is 25 years incarceration.