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Seven individuals face charges related to a drug trafficking operation that spanned from Mexico to the Hudson Valley, including Middletown. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced the indictment, which accuses the defendants of smuggling crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine across the country.
The accused, including Carlos Molina Rodriguez, Samuel Blain, Carlos Martinez, Kalif Cox, Justice Beard, Calvin Lewis, and Emmanuel Idyis, are charged with narcotics distribution, importation, and racketeering conspiracy. According to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, the defendants operated a large-scale narcotics distribution network, using specially modified minivans to transport drugs across the U.S.
Additionally, one of the suspects, Kalif Cox, is charged with the murder of an innocent bystander during a gang-related fight in Newburgh in 2019. The group is also accused of committing robberies, trafficking firearms, and creating child pornography. FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that the defendants used any means necessary to support their criminal enterprise.
The indictment, part of an operation known as "Summer Heat," highlights the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and violent crime in the region. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti, and the defendants are detained pending trial.