Four Individuals Indicted in Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Case
Authorities have reportedly dismantled a drug trafficking network operating across Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange counties, seizing significant quantities of narcotics, illegal firearms, and cash, according to an announcement from New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The investigation, led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) in collaboration with the New York State Police (NYSP), resulted in a 122-count indictment against four individuals accused of distributing cocaine, fentanyl, and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
Law enforcement officials confiscated:
2.5 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately $45,000.
3.5 kilograms of powder fentanyl, worth around $200,000.
Thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, with an estimated street value exceeding $500,000.
Five illegal handguns, including two ghost guns.
Four high-capacity magazines.
Drug paraphernalia, including kilo presses, scales, and packaging materials.
Approximately $255,000 in cash.
The individuals charged in the case are:
Xavier Grant, 22, of Poughkeepsie
Antawone West, 25, of Poughkeepsie
Michael Jones, 33, of Poughkeepsie
Kenyi Torres, 45, of Middletown
They face multiple felony charges, including criminal sale and possession of controlled substances, conspiracy, and firearms offenses. Some of the most serious charges carry potential prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Authorities say the 11-month investigation utilized various surveillance techniques, including electronic communications analysis and covert video recordings. The suspects allegedly used coded language when discussing drug transactions, referring to counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl as “blues,” “blueberries,” or “perks.”
The narcotics were reportedly stored at various locations in Poughkeepsie and sold in parking lots throughout the three counties.
Attorney General James emphasized the dangers of the drugs involved in the case, particularly fentanyl-laced pills, which have been linked to overdose deaths.
“Drug traffickers who distribute lethal amounts of opioids put communities throughout our state in danger,” James stated. “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.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James also commented on the arrests, noting that illegal drug distribution “poses a significant threat to safety and quality of life within our neighborhoods.”
The case is part of the state’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative, which has targeted opioid and narcotics trafficking since 2017. Officials report that the initiative has led to nearly 1,000 alleged traffickers being taken off the streets.
The case is being prosecuted by the OCTF, with assistance from multiple agencies, including the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force.