Four people have been indicted for allegedly running a drug ring that operated in Dutchess, Ulster and Orange Counties. The 122-count indictment was unsealed in Dutchess County Court. New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced the indictment.
The defendants in the case were identified as Xavier Grant who is 22, Antawone West who is 25, and Michael Jones who is 33 all from Poughkeepsie and Kenyi Torres of Middletown who is 45. They were charged with multiple felonies for narcotics and firearms offenses, some of which carry sentences of 20 years in prison.
An 11-month investigation was led by James Office’s Organized Crime Task Force and included the New York State Police’s Special Investigations Unit – Hudson Valley and the 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 assisted throughout the investigation according to James.
The investigation recovered about $1 million in cash and various drugs. Included were 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, plus $225,000 in cash. Five illegal handguns, including two ghost guns, and four high-capacity magazines also were seized.
According to the indictment, Grant, West, Jones, and Torres obtained cocaine, powder fentanyl, and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl for further distribution. Additionally, it’s alleged that the four defendants worked together to store, supply, and distribute the narcotics in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties. The narcotics allegedly were stored in various stash locations in the residential areas of Poughkeepsie and often sold in parking lots.
“Drug traffickers who distribute lethal amounts of opioids put communities throughout our state in danger,” James said. “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.”
According to 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.”
