Ten arrested in Hudson Valley cocaine ring bust, seven from Ulster County
A joint law enforcement operation dismantled a cocaine trafficking ring in New York's Hudson Valley, resulting in 10 arrests and the seizure of over a kilogram of cocaine.
Ten men charged in Ulster County cocaine trafficking operation
A joint law enforcement operation targeting a Hudson Valley cocaine trafficking network led to 10 arrests and the seizure of more than a kilogram of cocaine valued at $30,000, the New York Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday, according to dailyfreeman.com.
Seven of the ten men arrested are Ulster County residents. Nine of the defendants were arraigned in Ulster County Court before Judge Bryan Rounds on charges tied to their roles in the drug trafficking operation.
The investigation was led by the Organized Crime Task Force, with support from the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit. Authorities also recovered more than $12,500 in cash linked to narcotics sales.
"Drug trafficking rings flood our streets with dangerous narcotics and put our communities in serious danger," New York Attorney General Letitia James said. "This takedown marks another big step forward in our efforts to dismantle the web of trafficking rings that threaten New Yorkers' safety."
The investigation began in November 2024 and involved hundreds of hours of surveillance, court-authorised wiretaps and review of phone records. Investigators noted that defendants frequently used coded language — including "pizza", "pies" and "water" — to refer to cocaine shipments.
The case centres on Michael Felicello, 51, of Marlboro, whom investigators allege operated a cocaine distribution network spanning Ulster and Orange counties. According to the indictment, Felicello sourced cocaine from Jorge Lee, 48, also of Marlboro, with transactions taking place at RMC Trucking in Orange County. Additional suppliers identified in the indictment include Lawrence Falcetta, 53, of Marlboro, and Michael Brown, of Newburgh.
Jose Garcia, 57, of Newburgh, allegedly transported the drug, while Ernesto Reyes Rodriguez Jr., 25, of Marlboro, handled street-level sales on behalf of Lee. Investigators said that on 15 March 2026, law enforcement seized half an ounce of cocaine from Garcia.
The indictment charges all ten defendants with a combined total of 153 counts, including criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit those crimes — all felony-level charges. Defendants convicted on the top count face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The ten defendants named are: Michael Brown, 53, of Newburgh; John J. Dangelo II, 53, of Wallkill; Lawrence A. Falcetta Jr., 53, of Marlboro; Michael P. Felicello, 51, of Marlboro; Deborah A. Foster, 70, of Marlboro; Jose A. Garcia, 57, of Newburgh; Jorge Lee, 48, of Marlboro; Joshua A. Mintz, 41, of Highland; Eric S. Oremus, 56, of Poughkeepsie; and Ernesto R. Rodriguez Jr., 25, of Marlboro.
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa commended the agencies involved. "This operation is yet another example of the hard work, perseverance, and collaboration demonstrated by the men and women in the streets on the front lines in the fight against illegal narcotics trafficking," Figueroa said.
The Attorney General's Office also acknowledged assistance from the Ulster County District Attorney's Office, New York State Police Troop F, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and police departments in the towns of Marlborough, New Windsor and Newburgh, as well as the city of Newburgh.
Source: Google News JM — Kingston