Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler Announces Prison Sentences in Drug Cases

Deerpark Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Over 8 Ounces of Cocaine

Enfield Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Possessing Cocaine Withthe Intent to Sell

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Shariff Gual, 38, of Deerpark, was sentenced in Orange County Court to ten (10) years in state prison and five (5) years of post-release supervision in relation to his guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree.  District Attorney Hoovler further announced that on Monday, December 4, 2023, Eric Brown, 51, of Enfield, was sentenced in Orange County Court to six (6) years in state prison and two (2) years of post-release supervision in relation to his guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

A nearly month-long investigation conducted by the City of Port Jervis Police Department and Orange County Drug Task Force, together with the Pike County Criminal Investigations Division of the Pike County Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office, and the Sussex County New Jersey Prosecutors Office, revealed that Gual, who had been acting in concert with Reginald Francis, who has been arrested and charged with narcotics offenses in Milford, Pennsylvania, sold and possessed cocaine to resell to others within Orange County, New York, Montague, New Jersey, and Milford, Pennsylvania. The investigation culminated with the execution of multiple search warrants in the City of Port Jervis, Town of Deerpark, Montague, New Jersey, and Milford, Pennsylvania.

Search warrants executed during this investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 940 grams cocaine, a loaded handgun, and approximately $1,200 in cash. Other law enforcement agencies who provided crucial aid in this investigation included the City of Middletown Police Department, the Town of Deerpark Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group, the Pike County Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Office, Hudson Crime Analysis Center, the Pennsylvania State Police, and U.S. Probation.

On February 1, 2023 members of the New York State Police observed a vehicle being operated by Eric Brown on State Route 17 in the Town of Chester in violation of sections of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.  After conducting a traffic stop of the vehicle, Troopers observed a ziploc bag containing approximately 108 grams of cocaine on the passenger side of the vehicle.  A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of over a kilogram of cocaine.  At the plea proceeding, Brown admitted to possessing the cocaine with the intent to sell it.

“The disruption of high-level narcotics traffickers requires both the dedication of long-term law enforcement investigations, as well as the trained eye of officers in the field,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I have made it a priority of my Office to identify and prosecute major drug dealers.  Prison sentences, such as those imposed in these cases, are important not only to promote the safety of our communities, but to deter those who might consider the same actions as these defendants.  I commend the coordinated efforts of law enforcement and will continue to dedicate the time, effort and resources required to bring drug dealers to justice.”

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.

Criminal charges are merely allegations that a defendant has committed violations of the criminal law, and as such they are not evidence of guilt. All defendants have a presumption of innocence and are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the burden of the State of New York to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.