Source: US State of New York
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the takedown of a drug trafficking ring in the Hudson Valley that illegally sold cocaine, powder fentanyl, and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl across Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange Counties. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) recovered two and a half kilograms of cocaine worth approximately $45,000, thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl worth over $500,000, and three and a half kilograms of powder fentanyl worth over $200,000. Five illegal handguns, including two ghost guns, and four high-capacity magazines were also seized during the operation. A 122-count indictment charging four individuals for their roles in the drug trafficking network was unsealed in Dutchess County Court. The indictment charges Xavier Grant, Antawone West, Michael Jones, and Kenyi Torres with multiple felonies for narcotics and firearms offenses.
“Drug traffickers who distribute lethal amounts of opioids put communities throughout our state in danger,” said Attorney General James. “Not only did these individuals sell deadly narcotics, they disguised fentanyl in fake prescription pills, putting the lives of their customers at even greater risk. I thank our partners in law enforcement for their collaboration in this effort to take a dangerous criminal organization off our streets as we continue to work to keep New Yorkers safe.”
The takedown was the result of an eleven-month joint investigation led by OCTF and the New York State Police’s (NYSP) Special Investigations Unit – Hudson Valley (SIU-HV) and Troop K – Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (K-VGNET).
The investigation included hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance, analysis of voluminous electronic evidence, including cellphone communications, covert video and audio recordings, and other traditional investigative techniques. During their communications, the defendants frequently utilized coded and cryptic terminology in an attempt to disguise their illicit activities, such as referring to orders of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl as “blues,” “blueberries,” or “perks,” a nod to their legitimate, prescription medication counterparts.
The investigation revealed that Grant, West, Jones, and Torres obtained cocaine, powder fentanyl, and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl for further distribution. Additionally, the investigation revealed that the four defendants worked together to store, supply, and distribute the narcotics in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties. The narcotics were stored in various stash locations in the residential areas of Poughkeepsie and often sold in parking lots. The investigation also seized five illegal handguns, four of which were loaded, and two of which were ghost guns, in addition to four illegal high-capacity magazines.
The investigation into this narcotics trafficking network led to the recovery of:
- Two and a half kilograms of cocaine;
- Thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl weighing over two and a half kilograms;
- Three and a half kilograms of powder fentanyl;
- Five illegal handguns, including two ghost guns and four high-capacity magazines;
- Drug paraphernalia, including scales, ziplock bags, glassine envelopes, and other packaging materials used to package and measure narcotics;
- Two “kilo” presses; and
- Approximately $255,000 in cash.
Some of the alleged narcotics and firearms seized during the investigation, including cocaine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, powder fentanyl, five handguns, four high-capacity magazines, and “kilo” presses.
The 122-count indictment, unsealed in Dutchess County Court, includes counts for various felony narcotics offenses, including charges against Jones and West for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, respectively. Each carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Additional charges include various counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance (class B felonies) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A-II and B felonies), as well as Conspiracy to commit those crimes.
Jones and West are also charged with firearms offenses including Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony.
Grant and Torres are each charged with, among other things, multiple counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class A-II felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. They are also charged with Conspiracy to commit those crimes. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Some of the alleged counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl seized during this investigation.
“I want to thank the Attorney General’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their vigilant hard work that has resulted in the arrests of these dangerous individuals,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “The sale of these highly addictive drugs perpetuates a cycle of substance abuse which poses a significant threat to safety and quality of life within our neighborhoods. This sends a strong message to dealers that we will not tolerate illegal drugs and weapons being brought into or sold in our communities.”
Those charged in the indictment include:
- Xavier Grant a/k/a “X,” 22 years old of Poughkeepsie, New York;
- Antawone West, 25 years old of Poughkeepsie, New York;
- Michael Jones a/k/a “Slime,” 33 years old of Poughkeepsie, New York; and
- Kenyi Torres, 45 years old of Middletown, New York.
This takedown marks the latest major drug bust in OAG’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative, a law enforcement effort that brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York’s heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. Since launching in 2017, SURGE has taken 984 alleged traffickers off the streets.
The investigation was led by OCTF Detectives David Walsh and Steven Cohan, under the supervision of OCTF Detective Supervisor Bradford Miller, OCTF Downstate Assistant Chief Ismael Hernandez, and OCTF Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. The Attorney General’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.
Attorney General James would also like to thank Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force for their assistance throughout the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Joseph Barca under the supervision of Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Lauren Abinanti, with the assistance of OCTF Legal Support Analysts Madeline Rosen, Alex DiGiacomo, and former Legal Support Analyst Christine Cintron. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado. Both the Investigations Division and the Division for Criminal Justice are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
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