Four Arrested in Sheffield Drug Bust Involving Fentanyl and Loaded Guns

In a major drug bust in Sheffield, four people were arrested Tuesday morning following a multi-agency operation led by the Lyndonville Police Department. The operation, which also involved the Caledonia and Essex County Sheriff’s Departments, comes after months of investigation into drug activity in the area. At around 6:00 AM, police executed a search warrant at 1709 Route 122 in Sheffield, where they discovered nearly 45 grams of fentanyl and four loaded handguns. The home, owned by 56-year-old Toni Lapoint, had been under investigation for months after authorities learned that much of the local drug activity was being fueled by out-of-town sources. Lyndonville Police Chief Jack Harris said that when officers arrived at the residence, they met resistance at the door, prompting them to force entry. Toni Lapoint and her daughter, 32-year-old Monique Lapoint, were found in a bathroom on the first floor. Police found Toni Lapoint with a handgun holstered at her side. Meanwhile, two men, 23-year-olds Luis Velazquez and Kane Quiles, both from Springfield, Massachusetts, were found in an upstairs locked bedroom. Several firearms, three of which were loaded, were located near them. All four suspects were arrested and taken to the Lyndonville Police Department for processing before being arraigned in Caledonia Superior Court later in the day.  Velazquez and Quiles are charged with trafficking in fentanyl, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a defaced firearm, conspiracy, and carrying a weapon during a felony. Monique Lapoint faces charges of trafficking and conspiracy, while Toni Lapoint is charged with trafficking, conspiracy, and carrying a weapon during a felony. She also faces an additional charge for permitting drug sales in her home.