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Police & Fire
28-Year-Old Charged With Selling Crack Cocaine, Heroin In Putnam County 28-Year-Old Charged With Selling Crack Cocaine, Heroin In Putnam County
28-Year-Old Charged With Selling Crack Cocaine, Heroin In Putnam County A lengthy investigation into the sale of crack cocaine in Putnam County led to the arrest of a man in Florida who was busted attempting to sell firearms in Orlando, the Sheriff’s Department announced. In November last year, the Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Enforcement Unit received a tip that Rafael Veras-Molina, 28, of Orlando, who temporarily lived in Danbury, was selling crack-cocaine and heroin in Putnam. At least twice, members of the department made contact with Veras-Molina to purchase drugs. In May, Veras-Molina returned to Florida and an arrest warrant was issued from the Town of…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Selling Heroin In Putnam, Sheriff Says Man Accused Of Selling Heroin In Putnam, Sheriff Says
Man Accused Of Selling Heroin In Putnam, Sheriff Says A 30-year-old man is facing charges after he allegedly sold heroin in Putnam, police say. Members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU) say they purchased a quantity of heroin from Jose Manzueta on Route 22 in the Town of Southeast on Wednesday, July 10. Manzueta was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. Fiol Villar, 27, was charged with fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor. Manzueta was remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility on $2,500 ca…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Two Medical Office Managers Charged In Drug Sweep With Writing Fake Oxycodone Prescriptions Two Medical Office Managers Charged In Drug Sweep With Writing Fake Oxycodone Prescriptions
Two Medical Office Managers Charged In Drug Sweep With Writing Fake Oxycodone Prescriptions Two medical office managers who took advantage of electronic prescribing to allegedly dispense more than 50,000 oxycodone pills were scooped up in a wide-ranging drug sweep that included 18 arrests. The enforcement action, conducted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County Drug Task Force, primarily used undercover police officers to purchase heroin, cocaine, and prescription medications.  The countywide enforcement action was designed to help clean up neighborhoods throughout Orange County by targeting individuals trafficking narcotics, the …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Drug Bust Nets Cocaine, Cash, Stolen Gun In Area Drug Bust Nets Cocaine, Cash, Stolen Gun In Area
Drug Bust Nets Cocaine, Cash, Stolen Gun In Area A Wallkill man was allegedly busted with drugs, guns, and cash following a three-month investigation by police into the sale of crack cocaine in the City of Middletown. Jason Chisolm, 39, was busted on Thursday, May 23, by the City of Middletown Police Department Narcotics Unit, assisted by members of the New York State Police and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, during the execution of a search warrant of his residence, said City of Middletown Police Lt. Jeffry Thoelen. While conducting a search of the residence, officers found 53.3 grams of cocaine, 31.3 grams of crack co…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Accused Dealer Caught With 20 Decks Of Heroin, Police Say Accused Dealer Caught With 20 Decks Of Heroin, Police Say
Accused Dealer Caught With 20 Decks Of Heroin, Police Say An accused drug dealer is facing charges after being caught with 20 decks of heroin, according to police. An investigation by the New York State Police Troop K Violent Gang Neighborhood Enforcement Team (VGNET) and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department determined that 24-year-old Saiquan Deslandes of Poughkeepsie was dealing heroin in the Poughkeepsie area. When located, police say Deslandes was in possession of a total of 20 decks of heroin. Deslandes was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a Class B felony. Desla…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Former Firefighter Admits To Role In Major Drug-Ring Case In Area Former Firefighter Admits To Role In Major Drug-Ring Case In Area
Former Firefighter Admits To Role In Major Drug-Ring Case In Area A former volunteer firefighter in the area has admitted to his role in a conspiracy to sell prescription pills and cocaine. Middletown resident Robert Dunham, 46, a former firefighter in Mechanicstown in Orange County, pleaded guilty on Thursday, April 25 to first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy, both felonies. He reportedly also admitted to his role in selling and distributing cocaine. In February, police arrested nearly two dozen suspects that involved two separate conspiracies, one of which primarily involved members of “outlaw” motorcycle clubs traffic…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Accused Heroin Dealer Faces Charges In Area Accused Heroin Dealer Faces Charges In Area
Accused Heroin Dealer Faces Charges In Area An accused heroin dealer from Middletown will face charges in Dutchess County, police say. An investigation by the New York State Police Troop K Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET) revealed that 27-year-old Daquan Charles of Middletown allegedly possessed and sold more than 138 grams of heroin. New York State Police worked alongside the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office to obtain a criminal indictment from a grand jury. New York State Police Troop K Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET) arrested Charles on Tuesday, April 16. He faces the following c…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Five Charged In Westchester With Drug Trafficking Five Charged In Westchester With Drug Trafficking
Five Charged In Westchester With Drug Trafficking Five men have been charged in White Plains federal court and will face life in prison for allegedly trafficking cocaine in the Hudson Valley. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Ronald “Solo” Miller, Jason Paradies, Frank “Nitty” Nesbit, Corey Webb, and Kiyon Webb with the distribution of cocaine and cocaine base throughout the Southern District of New York. All five men were taken into federal custody on Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11 and presented in White Plains federal court. The indictment alleges that between 2016 through Octobe…

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by Zak Failla
News
12 Plead Guilty In Large Prescription Pill Trafficking Ring Operating In Hudson Valley 12 Plead Guilty In Large Prescription Pill Trafficking Ring Operating In Hudson Valley
12 Plead Guilty In Large Prescription Pill Trafficking Ring Operating In Hudson Valley A dozen Hudson Valley residents have pleaded guilty for their roles in a large prescription pill trafficking ring that sold thousands of pills to customers on a daily basis, according to the office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The 12 were busted following a nine-month investigation by the Attorney General's organized crime task force along with the New York State Police that included surveillance and wiretapping, hidden cameras, GPS devices, undercover agents, and cooperating witnesses, the AG's office said. Dubbed “Operation Candy Crush,” due to the code names of …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Lengthy Investigation Leads To Arrest Of Accused Town Of Poughkeepsie Drug Dealer Lengthy Investigation Leads To Arrest Of Accused Town Of Poughkeepsie Drug Dealer
Lengthy Investigation Leads To Arrest Of Accused Town Of Poughkeepsie Drug Dealer After a lengthy investigation, a Poughkeepsie drug dealer has been arrested, state police say. The Troop K Community Narcotics Enforcement Team initiated the long-term investigation and carried out a search warrant issued by the town of Poughkeepsie Court. According to police, the warrant led to the discovery of approximately 175.5 grams of cocaine and 352 grams of controlled stimulants in pill form. Police arrested 36-year-old William DeGaetano Friday, April 5. He faces the following charges: Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a Class B felo…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Former Middletown Fire Lieutenant Admits To Being A Major Drug Trafficker Former Middletown Fire Lieutenant Admits To Being A Major Drug Trafficker
Former Middletown Fire Lieutenant Admits To Being A Major Drug Trafficker A former Middletown Fire Department lieutenant faces up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty for his part in a drug operation ring that trafficked in fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs throughout Orange and Rockland County. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced Monday, April 8, that Paul Smith, 48, of Deerpark, who had been a paid lieutenant with the City of Middletown Fire Department at the time of his arrest on Feb. 5, pleaded guilty to operating as a major trafficker and conspiracy. Smith was part of a large group that involved two separate conspiracies, o…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Mexican National Admits To Drug Trafficking, Immigration Offenses In Fairfield County Mexican National Admits To Drug Trafficking, Immigration Offenses In Fairfield County
Mexican National Admits To Drug Trafficking, Immigration Offenses In Fairfield County A Mexican national who repeatedly illegally entered the country has admitted to his role in trafficking methamphetamine and other drugs from New York to Connecticut. Rafael Lopez-Macias, a citizen of Mexico last known to reside in Norwalk, has pleaded guilty in Bridgeport district court to narcotics trafficking and immigration offenses, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. In June 1998, Lopez-Macias was convicted in California on charges that included cocaine trafficking, Durham said. In February 2001, he was deported to Mexico. Lopez-Macias proceeded to illegally reenter the country i…

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by Zak Failla