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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
Police & Fire
Police Seize Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, Loaded Handgun In Poughkeepsie Drug Raid Police Seize Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, Loaded Handgun In Poughkeepsie Drug Raid
Police Seize Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, Loaded Handgun In Poughkeepsie Drug Raid A drug raid in Poughkeepsie has led to the discovery and seizure of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and a loaded handgun, police say. A search warrant was carried out at Apartment 204 on 159 Franklin Street in Poughkeepsie on Thursday, Feb. 14 by members of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department Neighborhood Recovery Unit and Emergency Services Unit, Poughkeepsie Police said. During the search, officers recovered and seized: Approximately 10 grams of cocaine 16 grams of a heroin/fentanyl compound 19 grams of hashish A loaded .45 caliber handgun Approximately $2,300 of U.S. currency A s…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Four Major Drug Traffickers Taken Down, 25 Others Arrested During Raids In Area Four Major Drug Traffickers Taken Down, 25 Others Arrested During Raids In Area
Four Major Drug Traffickers Taken Down, 25 Others Arrested During Raids In Area In a dramatic movie-style series of raids, a total of 29 people were arrested Tuesday during a drug enforcement action dubbed "Operation Bread, White and Blues." The bust went down early Tuesday morning as members of the DEA, FBI, the New York State Police, and the Orange County Sheriff's Office, raided several locations, including an Orange County firehouse in the City of Middletown in which one of the main dealers was an acting fire lieutenant, said Trooper Steven Nevel. Of the 29 arrested, three have been charged with the felony operating as a major trafficker, including the lieutenant, …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Dozens Arrested After Series Of Raid Throughout Hudson Valley By Feds, Local Police Dozens Arrested After Series Of Raid Throughout Hudson Valley By Feds, Local Police
Dozens Arrested After Series Of Raid Throughout Hudson Valley By Feds, Local Police This story has been updated. Officials are expecting to arrest more than 20 people in a drug sweep focusing on cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana that includes suspects in Rockland, Orange and Westchester County. DEA Special Agent Erin Mulvey said a series of raids focused on drugs were conducted, and are ongoing Tuesday throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond. One raid was conducted early Tuesday at a Nyack Apartment complex located at 52 Gail Drive, Mulvey said. Raids were also conducted in Middletown, she said. The raids included 193 members of the state police, 30 FBI agents and 20 DEA…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Accused Drug Dealers Caught With 553 Grams Of Cocaine In I-87 Stop Accused Drug Dealers Caught With 553 Grams Of Cocaine In I-87 Stop
Accused Drug Dealers Caught With 553 Grams Of Cocaine In I-87 Stop A pair of accused drug dealers are facing multiple felony charges after state police allegedly discovered a large amount of cocaine in a vehicle during a traffic stop in Woodbury. Police stopped the vehicle on I-87 on Monday, Dec. 3 just after 5 p.m. The interview with the driver gave police probable cause to conduct a search of the vehicle and its occupants. During the search, the vehicle’s driver, 33-year-old Johnathan R. Alvarez Cruz of Long Beach on Long Island, and passenger, 47-year-old Alexander Colon Ortiz of San Juan, Puerto Rico, were found to be in possession of approximately 553…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Heroin, Cocaine Seized After Man, Woman Take Police On High-Speed Chase Through Three Counties Heroin, Cocaine Seized After Man, Woman Take Police On High-Speed Chase Through Three Counties
Heroin, Cocaine Seized After Man, Woman Take Police On High-Speed Chase Through Three Counties A high-speed police chase through Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties ended with the arrests of a man and woman who were caught with a large amount of heroin as well as cocaine. The chase began after state police initiated a traffic stop at approximately 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18 as the suspects’ vehicle, a 2004 Acura TL, was traveling northbound on the Taconic State Parkway in Mount Pleasant. After the vehicle’s operator failed to comply, the duo led police on a pursuit that went through Northern Westchester and Putnam concluded on North Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie once the v…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Man Caught With Cocaine, Semi-Automatic Handgun In Taconic Traffic Stop Man Caught With Cocaine, Semi-Automatic Handgun In Taconic Traffic Stop
Man Caught With Cocaine, Semi-Automatic Handgun In Taconic Traffic Stop A 55-year-old man is facing drug and weapon charges after he was caught with cocaine and a semi-automatic handgun during a traffic stop on the Taconic State Parkway in Dutchess County, police said. New York State Police troopers stopped Bronx resident Steven Gary at approximately 6 p.m. on Oct. 27 on the parkway in Pleasant Valley when he committed a traffic violation.  During the subsequent stop, it was determined that Gary, 55, was driving with a suspended license. Police said that further investigation found that Gary was illegally in possession of a loaded Smith and Wesson semi-au…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Accused Beacon Cocaine Dealer Faces Felony Charge Accused Beacon Cocaine Dealer Faces Felony Charge
Accused Beacon Cocaine Dealer Faces Felony Charge A Beacon man was arrested for dealing cocaine following a warrant search of his home.  Derrick B. Lorick, 55, was arrested on Thursday following an investigation conducted by the NYSP Troop K Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, with the assistance of the NYSP Special Operations Response Team, for felony criminal possession of controlled substance with intent to sell, said Trooper AJ Hicks. During a search of Lorick's home, police uncovered more than 11.5 grams of cocaine, narcotics packaging, and weighing equipment, Hicks said. Lorick was arraigned in the City of Beacon court and re…

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by Kathy Reakes