Verona, NY – The woman who won the largest legal settlement in Syracuse history is facing a new drug charge following an incident Tuesday at the Turning Stone Casino. Oneida County Sheriff’s investigators say they were summoned to the casino after security officers had to remove Tatalisha M. Chesna, 28, and Sonya M. Chesna, 29, both of East Fayette Street,...
Verona, NY – The woman who won the largest legal settlement in Syracuse history is facing a new drug charge following an incident Tuesday at the Turning Stone Casino.
Oneida County Sheriff’s investigators say they were summoned to the casino after security officers had to remove Tatalisha M. Chesna, 28, and Sonya M. Chesna, 29, both of East Fayette Street, from their room. Subsequently, security officers and housekeepers found a baggie containing a green leafy substance and a second baggie containing white powder in the room, investigators said.
Tatalisha Chesna was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and arraigned by New York Mills Village Justice Robert Glenn, who ordered her held at the Oneida County Correctional Facility on $7,500 bail pending a July 7 court appearance. She was released on bail at 12:33 a.m., the sheriff’s office said.
Sonya Chesna was charged with possession of marijuana, a violation, and issued an appearance ticket to appear in Verona Town Court on July 13.
Tatalisha Chesna, formerly Tatalisha Mack, won a $3 million settlement from the city of Syracuse in March – the largest legal settlement in city history – to compensate her for injuries received when she was hit by a city truck while crossing Erie Boulevard East with Sonya Chesna. The Chesnas were married June 15 in Massachusetts, Sonya Chesna told Oneida County investigators.
Tatalisha Chesna was charged under the surname Mack with misdemeanor drug possession on June 1 after Syracuse police allegedly found marijuana and crack cocaine in her room at the Genesee Grande Hotel.