A Dutchess County Grand Jury has indicted seven people for allegedly running a narcotics trafficking network that operated in Westchester, Dutchess, Ulster and Orange Counties.
Indicted and arrested were: Damian Cunningham, age 40, of Mount Vernon; Nicole Kane, age 36, of Highland; and five people from Poughkeepsie — Shamique Delaine, age 33; Jonte Hatcher, age 41; Romell Hearn, age 45; Daquan Killian, age 32; and Dwan Scafe, age 36.
The 155-count indictment cites specific instances of alleged drug trafficking activity by the named individuals in places that include Yorktown Heights, Yonkers, Poughkeepsie and Highland.
The yearlong investigation was led by Attorney General Letitia James’ Organized Crime Task Force. Investigators seized more than 10,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl worth approximately $75,000, over eight kilograms of cocaine worth approximately $200,000, three firearms, including a ghost gun, and $14,000 in cash. Also recovered was drug paraphernalia, including scales, ziplock bags and other packaging materials used to hold and measure narcotics.
“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,” James said, while specifically citing the cooperation of the New York State Police in the investigation.
James revealed that electronic surveillance was used during the investigation along with other techniques. Her office said that the defendants and their co-conspirators frequently used coded and cryptic terminology to try and disguise their activities including referring to the counterfeit oxycodone pills as “blues” and using “soft” as code for cocaine.
The indictment alleged that Nicole Kane purchased cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from three of the defendants and made sales from her home in Highland. Other drug trafficking is alleged to have included transactions at a supermarket and auto supply store parking lot in Poughkeepsie and near the Newburgh Mall in Orange County.
It’s alleged that drugs were seized by police in Westchester County when they stopped one of the defendants in a vehicle in March of this year.
Felony narcotics offenses charged in the indictment include criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first and second degrees, which are Class A felonies and carry sentences of 24 and 14 years in prison, respectively. Hearn and Scafe are charged with operating as major traffickers, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
