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Several individuals face charges following a significant drug bust in Poughkeepsie. On Wednesday (February 5), law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at an apartment on Main Street after receiving complaints about drug activity. Inside, they found twelve people, two handguns, narcotics, and drug-selling paraphernalia. Three individuals were charged in connection to the incident, while another was arrested on a pre-existing bench warrant.
The operation was part of a larger investigation led by the New York Attorney General's Office and the New York State Police. This investigation targeted a narcotics trafficking network operating across Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Westchester counties. According to Attorney General Letitia James, the network was responsible for distributing cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 10,500 counterfeit pills, eight kilograms of cocaine, three firearms, and $14,000 in cash.
The Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force conducted the investigation, which included wiretapping, surveillance, and controlled purchases. The operation led to the arrest and indictment of seven individuals, including Shamique Delaine, Jonte Hatcher, Romell Hearn, Nicole Kane, Daquan Killian, Dwan Scafe, and Damian Cunningham. They face charges related to narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses.
The investigation is part of the Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative, which aims to dismantle drug trafficking networks in New York. The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies.