Police Arrest 4 Following Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Investigation in Syracuse NY

On November 13, 2025, members of the State Police Community Stabilization Unit (CSU), the Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET), and the Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit (CTIU) executed a vehicle stop. They searched the vehicle following an undercover narcotics investigation.

Subsequently, search warrants were executed on Johnson and his vehicle. Investigators located a digital scale with cocaine residue inside the vehicle and recovered five bricks of fentanyl concealed in his shoe. He was taken into custody and transported to SP North Syracuse.

A residential search warrant was then executed at 115 Erie Street.

Inside the residence, investigators located Frederick L. Johnson, a 54-year-old male, and two 15- and 17-year-old males.

During the search, investigators seized:

• Numerous knotted plastic bags containing cocaine HCL and cocaine base, with an approximate aggregate weight of 5.8 ounces

• A loaded privately made “ghost gun” equipped with a large capacity ammunition feeding device

• Two glassine envelopes containing fentanyl

• Two digital scales containing cocaine residue

• Drug paraphernalia

• U.S. currency estimated to exceed 70,000 dollars

• Two rifles

Frederick L. Johnson, age 54, of Syracuse, NY, was arrested and charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd degree (Class A II felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree (Class B felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree (Class C felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree (Class D felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Three counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)

• Three counts of Failure to Safeguard a Rifle or Shotgun

Eric L. Johnson, age 18, of Syracuse, NY, was arrested and charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd degree (Class A II felony)

• Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree (Class B felony)

• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree (Class B felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree (Class D felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Three counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)

The 15-year-old male was arrested and charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd degree (Class A II felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree (Class B felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree (Class D felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Three counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)

The 17-year-old male was arrested and charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd degree (Class A II felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree (Class B felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree (Class D felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felony)

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree (Class A misdemeanor)

• Three counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)

Frederick L. Johnson and Eric L. Johnson were transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center pending arraignment.

The two juveniles were arraigned in Youth Part Court.