District Attorney Jim Farrell announced that two men, David Guisewhite, 25, of Elmira, N.Y. and Jose Brigannti, 21, of Bronx, N.Y. were sentenced in Sullivan County Court to state prison terms for the possession of over 4 ounces of cocaine after a traffic stop on State Route 17 in the Town of Rockland on May 12, 2012.

Both men pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class A-2 felony. Brigannti also pled guilty to driving while under the influence of marihuana. Guisewhite was sentenced to 8 years in prison and Brigannti was sentenced to 3 years in state prison with both sentences to be followed with 5 years of post release supervision or parole. Guisewhite also forfeited $1,064.00 in cash as proceeds of his illegal conduct.

Farrell said that both men, along with a third man, Dana Baker, 45, also of Elmira, N.Y., were in a motor vehicle that was stopped by the New York State Police for speeding. A subsequent search of the car revealed over four ounces of cocaine and twenty five grams of marihuana.

Farrell said the investigation revealed that the men were coming from New York City after obtaining the drugs and the cocaine seized was intended for distribution in Elmira.

Farrell praised the drug interdiction skills of the New York State Police and the officers who were involved in the stop and investigation stating, “These troopers and investigators skillfully discovered a large cache of cocaine that was destined for distribution on the streets and their actions foiled the plans of these drug dealers and resulted in prison sentences for each.” Baker, who also entered a guilty plea, is expected to receive between 8 and 10 years in prison for his role in the drug possession when he is sentenced next month.