District Attorney Hoovler: 9 Years for Drug Dealer Who Also Introduced Drugs Into the Jail

Defendant Previously Pled Guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree for Possessing Fentanyl with the Intent to Sell it

While Pending Sentence, Defendant Charged with and Pled Guilty to Introducing Suboxone into Orange County Jail

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Dashell Powlus, 25, of Port Jervis, was sentenced to nine (9) years in state prison and three years post-release supervision following his plea in Orange County Court to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in connection with his possession of fentanyl with his intent to sell it. While pending sentence for that conviction, Powlus was charged with Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, for which he was sentenced to two (2) to four (4) years in state prison.

Powlus had been the subject of an investigation by the City of Port Jervis Police Department into the sale of heroin. On April 30, 2021, the City of Port Jervis Police Department, aided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Operations Group, executed a search warrant at Powlus’s apartment on East Main Street, in the City of Port Jervis. At that time police officers recovered 123 glassine envelopes of fentanyl, a digital scale, additional glassine bags as well as money. An Orange County grand jury charged Powlus with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree for possessing the fentanyl with the intent to sell it, as well as with selling narcotics on April 27, 2021, and April 28, 2021. At the time Powlus pled guilty, he admitted that he was intending on selling the fentanyl that was recovered from his apartment.

While pending sentencing on the fentanyl charges, Powlus was charged with acting individually and in concert with others to introduce Suboxone into the Orange County Jail. Powlus pled guilty to the additional charges and admitted to his conduct.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Port Jervis Police Department for their investigation and their arrest of Powlus, as well as the Orange County Sheriff’s Special Operations Group for their assistance in the search warrant execution.

“Fentanyl continues to be the scourge of those fighting against drugs,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “It is responsible for the marked increase in overdose deaths here in Orange County and elsewhere. I commend the City of Port Jervis Police Department, and all our law enforcement partners, for their untiring efforts to stop those who are selling these lethal substances.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.

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.