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Long Manhunt Ends In Poughkeepsie Heroin Dealer's Sentencing

DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. - A Poughkeepsie man who was considered a major heroin dealer in Dutchess County and led authorities on a 15-month manhunt, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in state prison, according to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. 

Jason Brewster, 35

Jason Brewster, 35

Photo Credit: Dutchess County Drug Task Force

Jason Brewster, 36, who was apprehended in May following the manhunt, pleaded guilty Aug. 8 to felony first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, Schneiderman's Office said.

He also faces five years of post-release supervision.

“Violent drug rings not only harm the individuals they poison with drugs— they can inflict entire communities with crime and violence," said Schneiderman. "I will continue to work side by side with our partners in law enforcement to root out those who contribute to the opioid crisis across our state,” 

As uncovered during the investigation, Brewster initially sold in excess of 260 grams of heroin to an informant, with a street value of more than $16,000. Between October 2015 and February 2016, he made six such sales to the informant, Schneiderman said.

Brewster sold heroin on a regular basis out of his home where children were present, and in other locations in and around Poughkeepsie, including a location right near the S.F.B. Morse Magnet School, in the City of Poughkeepsie, he added.

The investigation was conducted by the attorney general’s Organized Crime Task Force, the state police Special Investigations Unit and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force.

To date, the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force has taken down 25 large drug trafficking gangs, made more than 580 felony narcotics arrests, and seized more than $1.5 million and more than 2,000 pounds of illegal drugs. 

State police Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that prison is the only future for those who deal in dangerous narcotics.

 The state police is committed to our partnership with the Attorney General to identify and shut down these dealers, and bring an end to the damage they inflict on our neighborhoods.”

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