Two coordinated narcotics investigations in Saratoga Springs resulted in the arrests of two men accused of selling methamphetamine and cocaine. The operations, carried out by the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA Task Force, targeted illegal activity at the Saratoga Race Course and a local barbershop.
Race‑track investigation
Authorities say 56‑year‑old Francisco Pabon‑Parilla, a licensed back‑stretch worker at the Saratoga Race Course, was selling crystal methamphetamine and cocaine during the racing season. DEA Investigator Rich Arpei received a tip in the summer of 2026 and observed Pabon‑Parilla conducting sales on NYRA property.
On September 2, 2026, investigators arrested Pabon‑Parilla at the racetrack. A search of his home on Vanderbilt Terrace yielded an illegally possessed 9 mm handgun, approximately 10 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, and two ounces of cocaine. He was federally charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Barbershop investigation
In a separate case, investigators focused on Benjamin Gutierrez‑Fuentes, a 40‑year‑old barber at TruCutz Barbershop on South Broadway. After obtaining search warrants for his vehicle, residence, and the shop, officers located Gutierrez‑Fuentes at a local gas station on October 1, 2026. A vehicle search uncovered 5.3 grams of packaged cocaine, and a subsequent home search seized more than $10,000 believed to be drug‑sale proceeds. Police reported that more than eight ounces of cocaine were removed from the community.
Gutierrez‑Fuentes now faces a first‑degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (a Class A‑I felony), two third‑degree possession counts (Class B felonies), and a fourth‑degree possession charge (Class C felony). He was arraigned and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail pending further charges.
Community response
TruCutz owner Lamont Washington expressed shock at the arrest, emphasizing that the shop had no prior knowledge of any illegal activity. The business reiterated the presumption of innocence for Gutierrez‑Fuentes and noted his temporary suspension pending the outcome of the case. Washington also highlighted the shop’s long‑standing community service, including free haircuts for the homeless and fundraising for children battling cancer.
Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby praised the collaborative effort, stating, “I commend the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the DEA NY Enforcement Division’s Albany Task Force Group for their outstanding investigative work in these two significant narcotics investigations.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam added that drug traffickers will exploit any venue, from racetracks to neighborhood barbershops, to push their poison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III underscored the importance of protecting the Saratoga Race Course, a venue that draws thousands of visitors, including children, each summer. He affirmed the federal commitment to using all necessary resources to eliminate dangerous drug distribution in the Northern District of New York.
The arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated law‑enforcement action and send a clear message that narcotics trafficking will not be tolerated in Saratoga Springs.
Original reporting: CBS 6 WRGB Albany (local) — read the source article.
