NORWICH – Fitim R. Latifi – accused of selling heroin – was scheduled to begin his jury trial on May 23, however, he chose to opt out of the trial, accepting a plea bargain from The Chenango County District Attorney's Office.
Latifi, 32, of 16 Sheldon Street in The City of Norwich was in court on May 20, with his attorney Thomas D. Jackson Jr. of the Jackson Bergman Attorneys at Law office in Binghamton.
Judge James E. Downey presided over the matter, while First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese was present on behalf of the people of Chenango County.
Latifi was originally arrested back on August 28, 2015, picked up by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office for an active arrest warrant that was issued by the Chenango County Court. The warrant was issued by the court following a sealed indictment presented to the grand jury on August 28, 2015.
Latifi had been under investigation for the sale of heroin in the Norwich area for ‘some time’ before being picked up on the arrest warrant, according to a press release that was issued at that time.
CCSO Narcotics Detectives, Road Patrol Deputies, and members of the Norwich Police Department located Latifi at his residence of 16 Sheldon St. in the City of Norwich.
Latifi was indicted on four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, all class B felonies.
It is alleged that Latifi sold heroin in The City of Norwich area on at least four separate occasions, and at that time was arraigned in the City of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.
Based on The Evening Sun archives, Latifi has a criminal history in the area. In a prior Evening Sun story in 2008, it was alleged that Latifi, then 25 and living in Sherburne, was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility after he was arrested for stabbing a family member.
On this prior matter, Latifi was charged with first degree assault, a felony, and third degree possession of a weapon. Norwich City Police reportedly responded to the scene in the City of Norwich, where they found a family member with a stab wound to the leg.
Since that original arrest date in August of 2015, Latifi had been released after posting a reduced bail amount of $10,000, while out on bail Latifi was rearrested for an alleged incident in Guilford where felony charges may be pending.
Latifi was in Chenango County Court the Friday before his trial date for Molineux and Sandoval hearings to determine what evidence could possibly be used.
However, once in court Latifi made it known to all present parties that he wished to not go forward with his jury trial and would like to enter a plea of guilty to the top count.
The understanding was that if Latifi changed his plea to guilty to the first count of the indictment, charging him with one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, all class B felony. That in turn for that, any possible charge out of the Guilford Court would run concurrent.
Judge Downey made it known that he would be sentenced to seven years in state prison followed by three years post release supervision on the charge, as well as be fined a total of $375 in fines and fees.
“I ask at this time we take the plea, and that he be arraigned on the predicate felony statement,” said Ferrarese.
