DELHI - Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that Jason C. Gonzales, 51, of Laurens, pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree- a Class B Felony, and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in Third Degree- a Class C Felony, on April 13.  The defendant was sentenced to 5 years in state prison on each charge, to be followed by 2 years of post-release supervision. 

On December 6, 2025, New York State Trooper Ronald King conducted a traffic stop in the Town of Sidney when he observed a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign.  Trooper King observed several hypodermic needles and scales in the vehicle. He also observed Jason Gonzales, a passenger in the vehicle, attempt to throw a sandwich bag containing a brown powdery substance (later confirmed to be fentanyl) over his shoulder onto the side of the road. New York State Police Investigator Mitchell Reed arrived on scene to assist.  Investigator Reed determined that the defendant intended to sell the fentanyl he was found in possession of and arrested him for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony. After being arraigned on that felony charge, due to New York State’s bail reform laws, the defendant was immediately released back into the community. 

Five days later, on December 11, 2025, New York State Trooper Daniel Mazzarella conducted a traffic stop on River Road in the Town of Sidney after observing that the vehicle did not have a valid inspection sticker.  Jason Gonzales was once again a passenger in the vehicle. During the traffic stop, Trooper Mazzarella observed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, and Jason Gonzales was taken into custody. State Police Investigator Karley Davenport arrived on scene to assist.  Gonzales was subsequently searched, and a white powdery substance- later identified as fentanyl- was found hidden in his underwear. Investigator Karley Davenport charged the defendant with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree after determining that the defendant intended to sell the fentanyl. 

On April 13, 2026, the defendant appeared in Delaware County Court regarding the above referenced charges. The defendant pleaded guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony, to satisfy the charges stemming from the December 6th arrest.  The Honorable John L. Hubbard sentenced the defendant to 5 years in state prison, to be followed by 2 years of post-release supervision. 

The defendant also pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony, to satisfy the charges stemming from the December 11th arrest. Prior to pleading guilty the defendant admitted that he knowingly possessed the fentanyl. He further admitted that he intended to sell it. Judge Hubbard then sentenced the defendant to 5 years in state prison, to be followed by 2 years of post-release supervision. The Court ordered that this sentence would run concurrently with the previously imposed 5 years of imprisonment.  

The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Delaware County Sheriff to begin serving his sentence. 

District Attorney Shawn Smith commended New York State Troopers Daniel Mazzarella and Ronald King for their attention to detail during each of these routine traffic stops. Smith also thanked Investigators Mitchell Reed and Karley Davenport for their thorough investigation. “Thanks to the detailed work done by the New York State Police, my office was able to secure these guilty pleas and the lengthy state prison sentences without the need for a trial.”