GOSHEN – A nine-month investigation into narcotics and gun trafficking in Orange County resulted in 17 arrests, officials announced May 1.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and other county, state and federal law enforcement officials announced the results of the investigation at a news conference in Goshen.
“Today is a very good day for Orange County in terms of public safety and lives saved,” Hoovler said.
Hoovler said the investigation started in the City of Middletown, where a suspect appeared to be more than just a typical street-level dealer.
“They brought the case to us,” Hoovler said, and that led to hundreds of hours put in by investigators over the next nine months.
“The real heroes are the men and women who did the work on the streets,” said Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw. “This is truly a remarkable accomplishment.”
Ewanciw estimated his officers alone put in approximately 6,500 hours on the street.
Hoovler cited one example of how much danger the narcotics seized pose to the public — approximately one kilogram of fentanyl was seized by investigators.
“That could kill 400,000 people, which is nearly the population of Orange County,” Hoovler said.
“Fentanyl is the greatest threat to this country,” added Sean Aguilara, an assistant special agent in charge with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
The operation extended beyond Orange County into New York City and Bergen County in New Jersey.
The people facing the most serious charges are Zachary Lewis, 52, of Central Valley; Nikye Bee, 31, of New York City; Pedro Pabon Jr., 51, of Brooklyn; Devin Paul, 52, of Leonia, N.J.; and Robert Howard, 58, of Edgewater, N.J.
They were all charged with first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy, both felonies.
Jonathan Tucciarone, 43, of Middletown, was charged with second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony.
Wesley Carrington, 60, and Jessica Pollidore, 41, both of Middletown, were charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fourth-degree conspiracy, both felonies.
Branden Best, 20, Hector James, 55, John Muller, 49; Dominic Scaranao, 43; Richard Banks, 53; and Juwan Dolson, 29, all of Middletown, and Ollie Dolson, 48, of New Hampton, were all charged with fourth-degree conspiracy, a felony.
Of the other two suspects, unnamed and so far not arrested, one faces a charge of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and the other faces a charge of second-degree conspiracy.
In addition to the fentanyl, investigators seized 16 firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun; 15 kilograms of cocaine; 200 grams of liquid PCP; hundreds of ecstasy pills; four vehicles; $250,000 in jewelry; and $258,600 in cash.
“If you bring this poison into our communities, we’re coming for you,” Hoovler said. “We’re taking everything away from you and you will not get it back.”
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: 17 arrested in 9-month Orange County narcotics, gun trafficking probe
Reporting by Mike Randall, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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