Monticello, NY - On March 8, 2024, Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty announced the convictions of Gerrod Prater, 41, of Liberty, for two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony, before the Sullivan County Court on March 5, 2024. Previously, on October 4, 2023, a Sullivan County Grand Jury handed up an eight-count indictment charging Prater with a variety of narcotics-related offenses. He had nine prior misdemeanor convictions at the time the indictment was filed.
The defendant’s arrest and conviction stemmed from an investigation led by the Village of Liberty Police Department with the assistance of the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at the Liberty Motel, in Liberty on March 18th, 2023. The search warrant yielded approximately fifty-four (54) grams of the deadly narcotic drug fentanyl. Subsequent to his arrest, the defendant was released pursuant to New York State’s failed bail reforms. After being released, the Village of Liberty Police continued their investigation into the defendant with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office. This led to the execution of a second search warrant at the defendant’s new residence at the Knights Inn, in Liberty. The execution of the search warrant yielded approximately twenty-two (22.8) grams of crack-cocaine.
At the time of his plea, Prater admitted that on March 18, 2023, he possessed the narcotic drug fentanyl at the Liberty Motel, in Liberty, with the intent to sell the same. Additionally, he admitted that on April 23, 2023, he possessed the narcotic drug cocaine at the Knights Inn, in Liberty, with the intent to sell the same. Pursuant to the terms of the plea deal, Prater will receive a determinate sentence of five years’ incarceration in state prison to be followed by two years of post-release supervision for one count; and he will further receive a consecutive determinate sentence of four and one-half years’ incarceration in state prison to be followed by two years’ of post-release supervision for the other count. That is, Prater will ultimately receive a sentence of nine and one-half year period of incarceration in state prison to be followed by two years of post-release supervision. Prater is due to be sentenced on May 2, 2024, before Sullivan County Court Judge Jim Farrell.
Conaty said: “Prater’s persistent desire to place a mere profit over the safety and well-being of the citizens of Sullivan County perpetuated the already disproportionate impact the opioid epidemic has plagued on this County. By engaging in this behavior at a location known for the tragic loss of a life owing to narcotics, Prater demonstrated his blatant disregard for the consequences of his actions. This lengthy prison sentence stresses the District Attorney’s Office relentless commitment to terminate the supply of these narcotics in Sullivan County. I want to thank the Village of Liberty Police Department for its exceptional investigation into this target and the long, grueling hours worked to bring him to justice.”
Chief Steven D’Agata of the Village of Liberty Police Department stated: “This investigation, arrest, and prosecution should send a message loud and clear to all individuals intent on putting dangerous drugs onto our streets, we will not tolerate it. My department stands united with the District Attorney’s Office in our continued efforts to hold individuals poisoning our communities responsible.”