Orange County sweep leads to drug and gun charges against more than 30 people

Lina PortmanMay 30, 2024

10 2 minutes read

GOSHEN – More than 30 people are facing charges, including sale and possession of drugs and weapons, and conspiracy, following a multi-agency sweep in Orange County.

The sweep was conducted primarily Tuesday of last week and the results were announced at a news conference Wednesday at the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The arrests were the culmination of a six-month investigation that extended beyond the county's borders to North Carolina, the primary source of weapons entering the county, and the state of Florida, a major source of drugs.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler estimated it was a $3.3 million-a-year operation that was ravaging the city of Newburgh and many other areas of the county.

During the investigation, law enforcement recovered 24 firearms, often purchased undercover, as well as a kilo of cocaine.

On the day of last week's enforcement action, police recovered an additional 11 1/2 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 90 grams of fentanyl, seven firearms, high-capacity magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, approximately $45,000 in foreign currency, as well as scales and packaging. materials used in drug trafficking.

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They also seized 10 vehicles, including a food truck that sold weapons and cocaine in addition to food. Hoovler said the truck was parked near the Newburgh city courthouse.

“This is the largest gun and cocaine trafficking case ever recorded in Orange County,” Hoovler said.

Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta said 30 people had been arrested so far and at least three others were awaiting arrest. Prior to the press conference, media were informed that the investigation was still open and ongoing and that additional suspects may be identified.

Arteta said one of the recovered guns was used in the killing of a 13-year-old in North Carolina.

The investigation was conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force, the County Sheriff's and Attorney's Offices, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF ), the Middletown and Poughkeepsie city police departments, the State Police and the Hudson Valley. Crime Analysis Center.

Other agencies contributing to the May 21 enforcement action included the Town of Newburgh and Newburgh Police Departments, the Town of Woodbury, Montgomery and Wallkill Police Departments, the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson and the NYPD.

Several speakers identified the ATF as the primary agency responsible for the success of the operation.

“Without the resources of the ATF and the ability to travel to North Carolina and Florida, we would not be able to host this event today,” Hoovler said.

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“Illegal firearms trafficking knows no state lines,” said Bryan Miller, special agent in charge of the ATF New York Field Division. “ATF will continue to use its cross-jurisdictional partnerships to identify traffickers and curb the flow of drugs and firearms into law-abiding communities.”

The main charges against each suspect identified Wednesday, all felonies, are:

First Degree Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance: Joshua Arnold; Owen Beckford, also known as Marvin Ottley; Salmon Dwayne; Kirkland salmon.

First-degree criminal sale of a firearm: Kirk Buckley; William Pulley; Andrew Smith.

First-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance: Jose Muir; Tyrese Simpson.

Second degree conspiracy: Kimani Beckford; Marc Berry; Trishanna Cohen; Zion Crossman; Shaka Eggeston Sr.; Matthew Green; Carnell Hinson; William Hrazanek; Kadeem Jacklyn; Knight Russell; Juan Malavé; Rubin Martinez; Ruperto Martinez; Chris McDonald; Moyoa McFarlane; Laura McLaren-Bailey; Anthony Nelson; Larry Oates; Melvin Ramirez; Henry Santana; Brian Scott; Chris Selfridge; Shantorian Towles; and Otien Williams.

Lina Portman

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