Third man pleads guilty in Capital Region meth distribution case

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that the third defendant in a drug sale case pleaded guilty on May 2.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that the third defendant in a drug sale case pleaded guilty on May 2. Joseph Lastrina, 38, of Norwalk, Connecticut, joins Thaddeus Price, 47, of Albany, and Robert Sanger, 59, of Rensselaer, who previously pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and distributing meth in the Capital Region.

Lastrina admitted to instructing Sanger and Price to facilitate drug deals that he arranged in the area back in November of 2022 which involved 177 grams of meth. A search warrant conducted at Sanger's home in May of 2023 resulted in an additional 217 grams of meth being recovered from the residence.

The three men now face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a post-release term of supervision of three years and up to life when they are sentenced. The investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration remains ongoing.