38 Count Indictment Alleges Illegal Possession of Guns and Drugs

DELHI — Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that Dennis A. Fickeria, 42, of Margaretville, New York was indicted by the Delaware County Grand Jury for 15 felony charges and 23 misdemeanor charges by the Delaware County Grand Jury on January 11, 2024, for incidents that occurred on January 3, 2024. 

Count One of the Indictment charges the defendant with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony.  The defendant, a convicted felon, is alleged to have possessed multiple loaded pistols and assault rifles.  This is the most serious count of the indictment, and the defendant faces up to 25 years in state prison if convicted of this charge. 

The defendant was also indicted for two Counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, each Class D felonies.  The allegations are that the defendant possessed two firearms that were defaced, in order to conceal them.

Counts Four and Five of the indictment accuse the defendant of Criminal Possession of an Undetectable Firearm, each Class E felonies. These counts allege that the defendant possessed two separate firearms that would evade detection by the screening devices commonly used at airports. 

Counts Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine each accuse the defendant of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. These charges are based on allegations that the defendant possessed large capacity ammunition feeding devices, including a 60 round magazine made for an assault rifle. 

Counts Ten and Eleven charged the defendant with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. The allegations of these two counts are that the defendant was found in possession of two stolen rifles. 

The defendant is also charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony.  He is also charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony.   The defendant is alleged to have possessed separate quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine with the intention of selling them.  If the defendant is convicted of any of these Class B felonies, he faces up to 12 years in state prison. 

The remaining charges accused the defendant of Class A Misdemeanors. 

District Attorney Shawn Smith commended the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department for their thorough investigation into this case. “My office will continue to partner with the Sheriff’s Department to ensure that illegal drugs and guns are removed from our community.” 

Chief Assistant District Attorney Richard D. Northrup Jr. presented the case to the Grand Jury.    

Indictments and criminal complaints are allegations.  All persons accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shawn J. Smith

District Attorney, Delaware County