A Geneva city councilor was arrested this week following an ongoing narcotics trafficking investigation in Ontario County, according to New York State Police.
Ahmad J. Whitfield, 45, of Geneva was charged with three felonies: one count of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to New York State Police.
Whitfield, an at-large member of Geneva’s City Council, is accused of selling cocaine/fentanyl to another person. The arrest stemmed from an investigation from New York State Police, Geneva Police Department, the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, troopers said.
Geneva City officials on Jan. 7 issued a statement, noting they are aware of Whitfield’s arrest.
“This matter is currently before the courts, and it would be inappropriate for City officials to comment on the details,” the statement read. “Councilor Whitfield, like all individuals, is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process under the law.”
“This is a serious situation, and it is important that we respect the legal process and the rights of all involved,” Mayor James Cecere said in a written statement. “My responsibility, and the responsibility of this Council, is to ensure that the City continues to serve our residents with stability, transparency and professionalism.”
That said, Cecere noted that it “does not mean minimizing the gravity of the situation or its impact on public trust.”
“Our residents deserve a government they can trust,” Cecere said. “Situations like this understandably shake confidence and reflect poorly on the city as a whole, regardless of legal outcomes. I take that impact on our community very seriously.”
Whitfield in November was re-elected as an at large councilman.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Geneva city councilor arrested on felony drug charges, state police say
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
