COLONIE — A 24-year-old Albany man faces weapon charges after police stopped the driver of the vehicle he was riding in for a routine traffic violation.
According to Lt. Robert Winn, Patrol Officer Austin Blais stopped a 2001 Nissan Maxima in front of 240 Wolf Road at around 12:26 a.m. on Thursday, July 9.
The driver, Jaquan Sams, a 31-year-old from Albany, had a suspended driver’s license and several bags of marijuana, which he gave to Blais during the interview. A small amount of cocaine was found near the driver’s seat that also allegedly belonged to Sams.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded .40 caliber “ghost gun” that had a defaced serial number and no other markings. The gun allegedly belonged to Zaquawn Graves, a 24-year-old from Albany.
A third passenger, Belinda Carvella-Taylor, a 30-year-old from Albany, was charged with drug possession after it was discovered she allegedly had three ecstasy pills and a small amount of marijuana allegedly in her possession.
Graves is charged with two felonies of criminal possession of a weapon.
Sams faces the misdemeanors of criminal possession of a controlled substance and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, the violations of unlawful possession of marijuana and the infractions of unsafe U-turn, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, improper license plates, uninspected motor vehicle, no front license plate and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Carvella-Taylor is charged with the misdemeanor of criminal possession of a controlled substance and the violation of unlawful possession of marijuana.
Graves was sent to the Albany County jail pending arraignment. Sams and Caravella-Taylor were released on appearance tickets.
