Steuben deputies arrest three, confiscate $130,000 of crystal methamphetamine

L-R:Dennis J. Jewell, Sheila M. Bates-Booth

Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports that a six month joint investigation between the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Unit, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the City of Corning Police Department, into the importation and distribution of crystal methamphetamine in Steuben County has led to the arrest of three people and the seizure of approximately three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, valued at around $130,000. Arrested were two residents of Georgia and one of Pennsylvania. Dennis J. Jewell, age 55 of Covington, Georgia and Sheila M. Bates-Booth, age 54, of Covington, Georgia were arrested on a federal warrant for alleged possession and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. It is alleged that Mr. Jewell and Ms. Bates-Booth possessed over two pounds of methamphetamine, allegedly brought to New York State for distribution in Steuben County. Mr. Jewell and Ms. Bates-Booth were remanded on a federal warrant to the Steuben County Jail with no bail. Subsequent to these arrests, Deborah K. Padgett, age 50, of Elkland, Pennsylvania was also arrested on a federal warrant for alleged possession and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and is in federal custody.
This investigation successfully shut down an alleged distribution ring of crystal methamphetamine from Georgia to Steuben County in which an estimated 32 pounds of methamphetamine had been distributed within the Steuben County area. The investigation is on-going and future arrests are pending.