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Ex-Westchester Cop Strangled First Of Four Homicide Victims With Zip Tie, Feds Say Ex-Westchester Cop Strangled First Of Four Homicide Victims With Zip Tie, Feds Say
Ex-Westchester Cop Strangled First Of Four Homicide Victims With Zip Tie, Feds Say Nicholas Tartaglione, the former Hudson Valley police officer facing the death penalty for a quadruple homicide, allegedly strangled the first of his victims with a zip tie, according to federal prosecutors. New information has been released regarding Tartaglione, a former Briarcliff Manor police officer, who is accused of murdering four men in Orange County in 2016. It’s the first time prosecutors have detailed how the former cop killed one of his four victims. According to the indictment that was filed in White Plains Federal Court, Tartaglione killed Martin Luna, 41, Urbano Santiago, 32…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man, 42, Pleads Guilty To Assault For Route 59 Crash That Left Three Seriously Injured Man, 42, Pleads Guilty To Assault For Route 59 Crash That Left Three Seriously Injured
Man, 42, Pleads Guilty To Assault For Route 59 Crash That Left Three Seriously Injured A 42-year-old man has pleaded guilty to assault in connection with a Nanuet car crash that left three people with serious injuries. Rohan Brijlall, 42, of the Bronx, pled guilty Monday, Sept. 9, for the crash that took place on Oct. 15, 2018, on Route 59 in Nanuet, said Acting Rockland County District Attorney Kevin Gilleece. Before the crash, which took place around 3:05 p.m., Brijlall was driving a Land Rover eastbound on Route 59 and Old Nyack Turnpike when he attempted to illegally pass another vehicle in the left lane from the right and merged into the center l…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Warrant Search Leads To Drug Charges For Area Man Warrant Search Leads To Drug Charges For Area Man
Warrant Search Leads To Drug Charges For Area Man A 32-year-old man is facing drug charges after a search warrant was carried out at his residence, according to police. New York State Police Investigators in Orange County worked alongside the Village of Goshen Police to execute a search warrant at the residence of Frankie Velilla, 32, of Goshen on Thursday, Aug. 22. Velilla was arrested after police say he was found to be in possession of cocaine and marijuana. Velilla was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Class B felonies, and fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a Class B mi…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Rockland Man Busted In Shakedown Gets Eight-Year Sentence For Separate Drug Charge Rockland Man Busted In Shakedown Gets Eight-Year Sentence For Separate Drug Charge
Rockland Man Busted In Shakedown Gets Eight-Year Sentence For Separate Drug Charge A 39-year-old Rockland man who was busted earlier this year during a major drug trafficking take-down that included FBI, DEA and local officials, has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Kenneth Nunez, of Spring Valley, was sentenced by Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance, said the Orange County District Attorney's Office. In addition to the eight years in prison, Nunez was also sentenced to five years post-release supervision, in connection with the enforcement action dubbed “Operation Bread, Whi…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Five Nabbed With Heroin, Guns During Newburgh Bust Five Nabbed With Heroin, Guns During Newburgh Bust
Five Nabbed With Heroin, Guns During Newburgh Bust A months-long investigation into the sale of narcotics in the Liberty Street area of the City of Newburgh has led to the arrest of five people and the seizure of a large amount of heroin, handguns, and cocaine.  Abimael Bruno, 37; Samir Lantigua, 25; Alex Santos-Martinez, 29; Micaela Sanabria, 34, and Christine Guzman, 26, of all of the City of New Newburgh, were arrested on Thursday, May 16, following a search the basement and second-floor apartments at 508 Liberty St., said City of Newburgh Police Det. Sgt.  Joseph Rutigliano. The search by members of the police department,…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Woman Nabbed On Violation Of Probation, Possession Of Drugs Woman Nabbed On Violation Of Probation, Possession Of Drugs
Woman Nabbed On Violation Of Probation, Possession Of Drugs A 29-year-old woman who allegedly violated her probation was busted with cocaine and other drugs following an investigation into her whereabouts. Lauren Soto, of the town of Wallkill, was arrested on April 25, by investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and the Orange County Probation Office when located at her place of employment after violating the rules of her probation, said Orange County Sheriff's Office Capt. Paul Arteta. Soto was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Following her arrest, a quantity of cocaine and Percocet were recovered fro…

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by Kathy Reakes
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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
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
Police & Fire
Stony Point Man, 27, Caught With Cocaine After Tappan Traffic Stop, Police Say Stony Point Man, 27, Caught With Cocaine After Tappan Traffic Stop, Police Say
Stony Point Man, 27, Caught With Cocaine After Tappan Traffic Stop, Police Say A 27-year-old man from Stony Point is facing charges after a Tappan traffic stop led to the discovery of cocaine, police say. Orangetown Police initiated a traffic stop after observing a driver commit an infraction on Autumn Drive in Tappan Thursday, March 21 around 2:45 a.m. Further investigation revealed that the driver, identified as Luis Herrera, was allegedly operating the vehicle with a suspended license. Herrera was also found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine, police say. Herrera was arrested and transported to Orangetown Police Headquarters. He was charged with: Thir…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Duo Caught With Cocaine After I-87 Traffic Stop Duo Caught With Cocaine After I-87 Traffic Stop
Duo Caught With Cocaine After I-87 Traffic Stop A man and woman are facing charges after a traffic stop on I-87 led to the discovery of cocaine, police say. New York State Police stopped a vehicle on I-87 for a series of vehicle and traffic violations on Saturday, March 2 around 4 p.m. in Woodbury. During the interview with the driver, identified as 37-year-old Vikky Alcantar of Newburgh, officers established probable cause to conduct a search. During the search, Alcantar was found to be in possession of about 6 grams of cocaine. An additional 7 grams were found in the vehicle as well. Police say the vehicle’s passenger was a New York …

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by Valerie Musson
News
Four Admit To Roles In 'Bread, White, Blue' Two-County Narcotics Distribution Case Four Admit To Roles In 'Bread, White, Blue' Two-County Narcotics Distribution Case
Four Admit To Roles In 'Bread, White, Blue' Two-County Narcotics Distribution Case Four of some 28 people busted during a drug raid dubbed "Operation Bread, White, and Blues," in Orange and Rockland counties have pleaded guilty to multiple counts of conspiracy for their dealings with the drug-running operation. Salvatore Distefano, 36, of Westtown, Desmon Pierson, 36, of Middletown and Melissa Delrosso, 35, of Middletown, each pleaded guilty to felony counts of conspiracy in the second degree and felony conspiracy in the fourth degree, said the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Dominick Guardino, 55, of Middletown, pleaded guilty to the felony of conspir…

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by Kathy Reakes