The Broome County Sheriff’s Office once again utilized drone technology to successfully track down a fleeing suspect following an extensive burglary and arson investigation in the Town of Binghamton that ended in two arrests and 13 felony charges.
On Monday, December 15, at approximately 8:31 a.m., Broome County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol deputies responded to a burglary complaint on Edison Ave. in the Town of Binghamton. The resident calling from another location informed 911 dispatchers that their security camera was showing an unknown person inside the Edison Ave. residence wearing a backpack and a mask.
Upon arrival, a responding deputy found fresh footprints in the snow, signs of a break-in and smoke billowing from inside the house due to an active fire. Additional patrols and members of the New York State Police arrived shortly after and joined the first responding deputy in attempting to eliminate the fire with fire extinguishers from their patrol cars.
Members of the Town of Binghamton Fire Department soon followed and successfully extinguished multiple fires that were found to have been set throughout the house. No one was found inside the residence.
As firefighters and members of law enforcement investigated the residence, other members of BCSO Road Patrol identified multiple sets of fresh footprints at the residence. One set of footprints was tracked footprints from the property leading south, uphill and into the woods. While tracking the footprints, investigators located a cell phone, kitchen towels and other items as they followed the tracks east.
BCSO Detectives then deployed a UAV drone, which detected heat signatures of an individual moving around a nearby residence on Woodside Ave. Patrols quickly located the individual, identified as Anthony T. Storti II, age 37 of the Town of Conklin, about ½ mile from the Edison Ave. residence and detained him. Storti was found to be in possession of narcotics and was transported back the BCSO Highway Patrol for further investigation. A headlamp, a large blue duffel bag containing two sets of clothes, two garbage bags and a backpack were all found on the property where area Stori was found.
Over the course of the investigation, Storti was found to have entered the residence multiple times on the morning of December 15 to steal various items. After reportedly losing a vape inside the residence, Storti allegedly ignited multiple fires with tiki torch fuel he found in the residence to eliminate evidence of his presence. A second individual, Allyson P. Russell, age 24 of Endicott, NY was identified as an accomplice in the burglary and arson.
A search warrant was executed at Storti’s residence on Woodside Ave., during which multiple stolen items were located and identified. A large assortment of jewelry and personal items, silverware and a Ruger .22 handgun and .22 ammunition were found to have been taken from the Edison Ave. residence. Multiple other illegal firearms were also located during the search warrant execution.
During the course of the investigation, Anthony T. Stori II was charged with the following:
– Burglary in the 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
– Criminal Use of a Firearm in the 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
– Arson in the 3rd Degree, a Class C Felony
– Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony
– Four (4) Counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree, Class D Felonies
– Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree, a Class E Felony
– Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
On Friday, December 19, 2025, BCSO investigators were notified that Allyson Russell had been taken into custody by NYSP as part of an investigation into a separate burglary incident.
Following further investigation, Allyson P. Russell was charged with:
– Criminal Use of a Firearm in the 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
– Burglary in the 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
– Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony
– Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree, a Class E Felony
“Our BCSO Detectives and Road Patrol showed once again why there are the top tier in law enforcement and investigation,” said Sheriff Fred Akshar. “From tireless canvassing, tracking, witness interviews and evidence gathering to pairing modern technology with old-fashioned detective work, they utilized all the tools necessary to successfully and efficiently serve and protect the people of this community. We could not be prouder of their efforts.”
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, the Broome County Bureau of Fire Investigation and the Town of Binghamton Fire Department.
