Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 Source: Daily Star, The (NY) Copyright: 2002 The Daily Star Contact: http://www.thedailystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/557 Author: Patricia Breakey, Delhi News Bureau WEBSITE TIPPED WALTON STING A Tioga County man says it was a tip to his anti-drugs website that eventually led to the drug bust in Walton on Tuesday. Steven H. Steiner, founder of DAMMADD -- Dads and Moms Against Drug Dealers, said a tip was received on the DAMMADD website in October about a drug sale that was about to take place in Walton. "A tipster contacted us and said that a woman was coming to Walton from New York City to sell crack cocaine," Steiner said. The name given for the woman "was Jenny Cochrane," he said. Virginia "Jenny" Cochrane, 35, now of Walton, Calvin "Pop" Royal III, 21, of Johnson City, and Candice Johnson, 21, also of Johnson City, were each charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance on Tuesday following a raid at 6 Maple St. in Walton. The Delaware County Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at the downstairs apartment. Also arrested were Michael J. Spensieri, 37, of Walton, who was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and Tariq Amin, 19, of Johnson City, who was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Steiner said the October tip indicated that the sale of drugs in Walton would take place in 45 minutes, which was not enough time for the Delaware County Sheriff's Department to take action. "The sheriff's department contacted the Walton Police Department, who set up surveillance and watched the sale go down," Steiner said. Steiner said the Internet tip came from someone in Walton. Delaware County Undersheriff Doug Vredenburgh partially confirmed Steiner's account. "He gave us information regarding one of these individuals being involved in drug trafficking," Vredenburgh said. "He said a drug transaction was going to take place behind the bank, but we weren't able to get there that fast. We gave it to Walton." Walton Police Chief Mel Woodin wouldn't verify that his officers saw a drug transaction take place that day, but he didn't deny it either. "I am not verifying that claim with a yes or a no," Woodin said. "I will say that we are involved with the county's Drug Enforcement Unit and that this arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation." Both Vredenburgh and Woodin are aware of Steiner's DAMMADD website, where he is waging a personal war on drug dealers. The organization accepts tips at its Internet site (www.dammadd.org) and offers cash rewards ranging from $100 to $1,500 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. People can also call the toll-free hot line at (866) DAMMADD. "We became aware of his organization in August," Vredenburgh said. "And I am in favor of any program that works to stop drug dealing." Steiner's program is designed to forward the public's tips about drug dealing and related activity to law enforcement officials, while protecting the anonymity of the informer. Dads and Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers was founded by Steiner and his wife after they lost their son to an OxyContin-Ecstasy overdose last year. Stevie Steiner died last January from an overdose after partying during Super Bowl weekend. On the Saturday before the game, the younger Steiner and others at a party took Ecstasy and snorted OxyContin, a powerful prescription painkiller also known by its generic name oxycodone. "Stevie's death changed my life forever," Steiner said. Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, gave Steiner's program a $50,000 grant to launch its Internet site and related efforts. However, Steiner said more funding is desperately needed to keep the organization going. "If I had a blank check, drug dealers would be at my mercy," Steiner said. Steiner said to date the program has received more than 500 tips, which have resulted in 18 arrests and one conviction. He is counting the five Walton arrests among his successes. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel