In the early morning hours of January 29, 2025, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at 118 East Green Street, known as the Asteri building, resulting in the arrest of three individuals. This operation is part of an ongoing investigation into narcotics trafficking led by the Ithaca Police Department.
The Ithaca-Tompkins Specialized Response Team, comprising officers from the Ithaca Police Department and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the raid at approximately 4:30 AM. During the search, authorities discovered drugs, drug paraphernalia, and an illegally possessed weapon at the residence.
Among those arrested was 23-year-old Anthony J. Teutonico Jr., of Ithaca, who had previously been taken into custody on January 20 for possession of two ounces of methamphetamine and four grams of crack cocaine. In the latest raid, Teutonico was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony, and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Following his arraignment in Ithaca City Court, he was remanded to the Tompkins County Jail with bail set at $2,000 cash, $2,000 credit, or a partly secured surety bond of 10% of $2,000.
Also arrested was 20-year-old Kevin Krise, of Ithaca. Krise faces multiple charges, including criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony; and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Krise was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.
During the search, officers also apprehended 41-year-old Benjamin Sturdivant, of Ithaca, who had active bench warrants for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and harassment in the second degree. Sturdivant was taken into custody and transported to Ithaca City Court.
It is unclear if these individuals are residents of the Asteri. In December, a Notice of Violation issued by Tompkins County Environmental Health to Asteri owner Vecino Group stated that “Unhoused visitors are believed to stay overnight in some of the units in the building.” Additionally, the door of the building can be opened without a key fob, providing access to anyone who wishes to enter.
Several Tompkins County Legislators recently witnessed this fact during a visit to the the building. “I will say it was an enlightening experience,” Legislator Mike Sigler said, “for the simple fact that we’re sitting there waiting to get in, because you’ve got to buzz in. And there’s a guy there and he pulls the door open, breaking the door. I mean, literally, it happens right in front of us. So we’re standing there, and we’re like, “Well yeah, we’ll go in.” And that gave us access to the entire building.”
These arrests follow a previous raid at the Asteri building on December 13, 2024, where a coordinated operation led to the arrest of 46-year-old Ramal Abdullah, of Brooklyn, and 65-year-old Randall Brooks, of Ithaca. Authorities seized drugs, an illegally possessed firearm, and cash during that operation. Abdullah was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, while Brooks faced a charge of first-degree criminal nuisance.
Since opening its doors to tenants in June 2024, the Asteri building has been the site of frequent overdoses, including at least one fatal overdose on December 8, 2024. The Ithaca Police Community Dashboard currently shows multiple police responses to the Asteri for drug-related incidents. Police are summoned to the building three to four times a day, sometimes more, in what Ithaca Police Chief Thomas Kelly has described as “an abuse of the city resources.”
The Ithaca Police Department received assistance from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Ithaca-Tompkins Crisis Negotiation Team in executing the January 29 operation.
Further details on the case may be released as the investigation progresses.
CORRECTION: This article initially stated that Teutonico was in possession of four ounces of crack cocaine. It was four grams.
The Ithaca Police Department press release on this incident can be viewed below.