Seven people have been accused in the sale of cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl as part of a New York State Attorney General’s Office investigation into a narcotics trafficking network in Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and Westchester counties.
The heart of the operation, according to the state’s investigation, was in Poughkeepsie.
“Our investigation dismantled a drug trafficking network that was responsible for moving massive quantities of dangerous narcotics throughout the Hudson Valley, where communities have been hit hard by the opioid crisis,” New York State Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
The year-long joint investigation was led by the Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force, the New York State Police’s Special Investigations Unit – Hudson Valley and Troop K – Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team.
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 also assisted throughout the investigation.
“Today’s arrests are part of an aggressive strategy to target the networks that are bringing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics into downstate communities,” New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said in a statement.
Seven people were a part of the 155-count indictment Thursday. Nicole Kane, 36, of Highland, was charged with conspiracy and trafficking cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, as well as Shamique Delaine, 33; Jonte “Diggs” Hatcher, 41; Romell “Mel” Hearn, 45; Daquan Killian, 32; and Dwan Scafe, 36; all of Poughkeepsie.
Damian Cunningham, 40, of Mount Vernon, was charged with trafficking cocaine.
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What occurred during the 12-month investigation
The person at the center of the investigation was Nicole Kane, who law enforcement claimed purchased both cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from Killian, Hearn and Hatcher for further distribution.
Kane proceeded to make sales from her home in Highland, the AG’s office said, while sourcing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from Killian at his home and at the Price Chopper Supermarket in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Hearn allegedly supplied Kane with cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, but Hearn also sold cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone in Poughkeepsie, according to the AG’s report, including at a local AutoZone parking lot.
Hatcher is accused of selling cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone in Poughkeepsie and near the Newburgh Mall in Orange County.
Over the course of a year, the investigation used controlled narcotics and firearm purchase operations, hundreds of hours of surveillance, physical and covert, court-authorized wiretapping of cellphones, and analysis of other electronic evidence.
The investigation revealed Hearn and Scafe were working together out of a stash house in Poughkeepsie, where they possessed, stored, supplied and distributed cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in Dutchess County.
What was recovered as a result of the investigation
In March 2024, a kilogram of cocaine police said Scafe sold to Cunningham was seized during a car stop in Westchester County.
In May 2024, a loaded firearm, a high-capacity magazine, and an additional six kilograms of cocaine were seized from Hearn and Scafe.
In August 2024, a loaded firearm and approximately 450 grams, just under a pound, of cocaine were seized from Hatcher and Delaine.
The investigation also recovered a Polymer 80 ghost gun that police said was sold by Kane.
The following items were seized as a result of the narcotics trafficking network investigation:
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Over 10,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, having an approximate street value of $75,000
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Over eight kilograms, approximately 18 pounds, of cocaine, with an approximate street value of $200,000
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Three illegal firearms, one of which was a Polymer 80 ghost handgun, as well as two high-capacity magazines
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Approximately $14,000 in cash
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Drug paraphernalia, including scales, resealable bags, and other packaging materials, for measuring and packaging narcotics
This investigation was a part of the OAG’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic Initiative, targeting the state’s heroin, opioid and narcotics trafficking networks with collaboration between local and state law enforcement. SURGE, originally launched in 2017, has taken in 980 alleged traffickers.
“Counterfeit opioids containing deadly amounts of fentanyl are a grave threat to New Yorkers,” James said.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: NY AG: ‘Massive quantities’ of narcotics trafficked in Hudson Valley