CAYUGA COUNTY, NY — Investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on the evening of March 17, seizing methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms and ammunition, according to the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office.
The Finger Lakes Drug Task Force had been investigating the illegal possession, sales and distribution of narcotics allegedly conducted by Chad M. Bower and Apryl J. Chiszar in Cayuga County, Sgt. D. Edmonds said in a news release.
Investigators obtained a court-authorized search warrant for a residence in Cayuga County that Bower and Chiszar were allegedly using to further their sales of narcotics.
During the search warrant execution, investigators located and secured over 8 ounces of methamphetamine, 4.8 grams of crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia commonly used for packaging and distribution of illegal narcotics, U.S. currency, several high-caliber rifles, ammunition and high-capacity magazines.
Bower, 44, of Genoa, New York, and Chiszar, 41, of Genoa, New York, were arrested and charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, sub 1, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, sub 7.
Bower was also charged with three counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree due to a previous felony conviction.
Both were turned over to the custody of the Cayuga County Jail for centralized arraignment proceedings and were remanded to the jail pending further court proceedings.
The Finger Lakes Drug Task Force is comprised of members of the New York State Police, Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office and Auburn Police Department and was assisted by the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Teams from the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office and Auburn Police Department.
The Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
Anyone with additional information can call the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force at 315-282-7540.
