DA Hoovler Announces Countywide Narcotics Enforcement Action

November 3, 2017

Fifteen Defendants Charged With Selling and Possessing Fentanyl, Heroin,
Cocaine and Prescription Medications

Four Defendants Charges with A-II Level Drug Felonies

Goshen, NY – Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler today announced that fifteen defendants have been charged with trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and prescription medications throughout Orange County. Four of the defendants were charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A-II felony.

The enforcement action, entitled “Aces High”, used undercover police officers to purchase fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and prescription medications. The countywide enforcement action, one of over a dozen since District Attorney Hoovler took office was designed to help clean up neighborhoods throughout Orange County by targeting individuals trafficking narcotics.

Most of the purchases of the drugs, and many of the arrests, were performed by the Orange County Drug Task Force. That Task Force, which was created in 2015, is run under the supervision of a Senior Criminal Investigator from the District Attorney’s Office and a Senior Investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to personnel from those agencies, the Drug Task Force is composed of police officers from other Orange County police departments. Currently the Town of Montgomery Police Department, the Town of Wallkill Police Department, Town of Highlands, and the Village of Washingtonville Police Department have committed to assigning police officers to work on the Task Force. The Drug Task Force assists other agencies in conducting narcotics investigations, including undercover investigations, throughout the county. Other agencies which assisted in the enforcement action included the Village of Goshen Police Department, the Town of New Windsor Police Department, the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the City of Port Jervis Police Department. Additionally, the United States Marshal’s Service is aiding in apprehending individuals who were charged in the enforcement action, but who have not yet been apprehended.

Those who have been arrested and charged in this enforcement action include:

Defendant
Location of Crime
Top Charge
Substance
Age
Residence
Joe “Capital” Bailey
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 2nd Degree
Cocaine Heroin
36
Newburgh
Robert Smith
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 2nd Degree
Cocaine
34
Newburgh
Asha McHale
Blooming Grove
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 2nd Degree
Cocaine
46
Blooming Grove
Damion
“Toetoe”
Jackson
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Fentanyl/
Heroin
36
Newburgh
Scott Lemin
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Heroin
46
Blooming Grove
Russell
Knight
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Crack
Cocaine
30
Newburgh
Tashay Deans
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Heroin
31
Newburgh
Tashon
Murphy
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Heroin
29
Newburgh
Wesley
Patterson
Town of Ne Windsor
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Heroin
34
New Windsor
Rey Colon
City of Port Jervis
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Cocaine
50
Port Jervis

The District Attorney’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance the apprehension of the following individuals who have been charged in the enforcement action, but who have not yet been apprehended:

Defendant
Location of Crime
Top Charge
Substance
Age
Residence
Michael Shivers
Town of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Oxycodone
55
Blooming Grove
James Cox
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 2nd Degree
Cocaine
34
Newburgh
Ricky McNeil
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Crack
Cocaine
29
Newburgh
James Turner
City of Newburgh
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Heroin
36
Newburgh
Shawn Neil
Town of Wallkill
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Crack
Cocaine
29
Wallkill

The maximum sentence for the Class A Felony of Criminal Sale of Controlled Substance in the Second Degree is ten years in state prison and post release supervision, and for the Class B Felony of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree is nine years and post release supervision.

“Drug dealers selling opioids, including heroin and oxycodone, truly are merchants of death.” said District Attorney Hoovler. “As of August 2017, there have been eighteen suspected, and at least fifteen confirmed, overdose deaths in Orange County. Since the beginning of 2016 police officers in Orange County have had to administer Narcan 138 times to assist individuals suffering from opioid induced overdoses, resulting in 119 lives being saved. The illegal drug epidemic requires a constant and serious response. The key to the success of these narcotics enforcement actions has been the collective efforts of the police agencies involved. I thank Sheriff Carl E. DuBois, City of Newburgh Acting Police Chief Aaron Weaver, City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, and all of the Police Chiefs who have devoted officers and resources to this enforcement action, as well as the United States Marshal’s Service which is bringing its considerable resources to the search for the defendants who are still wanted. Together with the assistance of local governments, and concerned Orange County residents, we can combat the narcotics epidemic that is killing far too many in our communities. My office remains committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners, other government agencies, and concerned citizens to eradicate this scourge.”

The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Lorri Goldberg and Matthew Healy and Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs.

A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.