A Stony Brook University student has been indicted on multiple felony drug charges after prosecutors said he sold methamphetamine pills from his campus dorm room and was found in possession of additional narcotics during a search of the residence.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Thursday that William Turri, 20, of Fairport, was indicted on charges including Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
According to investigators, an undercover Suffolk County police officer contacted Turri through Instagram in April after receiving information that he was allegedly selling Adderall on the Stony Brook University campus. Prosecutors said Turri arranged two meetings with the undercover officer and directed him to his dorm room, where he allegedly sold pills that were later determined to be methamphetamine.
Authorities said a third transaction was arranged for April 27, but instead of completing the sale, Suffolk County Police arrested Turri.
Following the arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Turri’s dorm room and allegedly recovered more than two ounces of methamphetamine pressed into orange pills designed to resemble pharmaceutical Adderall, along with ketamine and drug packaging materials.
“This defendant allegedly turned a college dorm room into a methamphetamine distribution hub,” Tierney said. “We will not tolerate people who peddle poison in our communities, especially those who do so targeting students on college campuses.”
As a result of the arrest, Stony Brook University placed Turri on interim suspension, according to prosecutors.
Turri was arraigned June 18 before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Piliweski on an indictment charging him with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.
Under New York law, the charges are not bail eligible, meaning prosecutors could not seek bail and the court could not impose it. Turri was released pending further court proceedings. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Turri is scheduled to return to court on July 19. Prosecutors noted that criminal charges are accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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