Saratoga County, New York—Saratoga County District Attorney Brett R. Eby announced today that John Campanella (DOB: December 14, 1968), who brought more than six ounces of cocaine into the City of Saratoga Springs over the course of an extensive narcotics investigation, was sentenced on May 28, 2026, in Saratoga County Court before the Honorable James R. Davis to a total of eight and one-half years in state prison, followed by two years of post-release supervision.
Campanella previously pleaded guilty on March 10, 2026, to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, each count stemming from his possession of more than one-half ounce of cocaine.
The charges arose from a long-term investigation conducted by the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit. Saratoga Springs Police Department investigators executed a search warrant at Campanella’s residence and recovered more than a quarter pound of cocaine, thousands of dollars in cash, and multiple cellular phones secured in a safe.
Investigators continued their efforts and executed a second search warrant at Campanella’s residence. During that search, law enforcement recovered more than one-half ounce of cocaine, multiple scales used in the weighing and distribution of narcotics, and nearly one thousand dollars in cash.
Campanella has a prior felony conviction for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree from 2008, as well as multiple convictions for Driving While Intoxicated.
“This sentence sends a clear message that Saratoga County will aggressively investigate and prosecute narcotics traffickers who poison our communities for profit,” said District Attorney Brett R. Eby. “The successful prosecution of this repeat offender is another significant achievement for our newly established Special Investigations and Narcotics Bureau. Through close partnerships with local law enforcement and dedicated prosecutors, we are identifying, targeting, and removing drug dealers from our neighborhoods. We remain committed to protecting public safety and holding accountable those who bring dangerous narcotics into Saratoga County.”
District Attorney Eby commended the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit for its diligent investigative work and commitment to combating illegal drug trafficking within the City of Saratoga Springs.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Alexander J. Brennan and Assistant District Attorney Tyler Patterson. The investigation was supported by Special Investigations and Narcotics Bureau Chief Meghan Horton and District Attorney Investigator Joseph Iwaniec.