Seven Indicted for Distributing Drugs in Ulster County

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Four Ellenville, New York, residents were arrested this morning for selling large amounts of crack cocaine in the Ellenville area as charged in an indictment returned last week by a federal grand jury.  Three additional defendants charged in the indictment were arrested in December 2018 and January 2019.  In coordination with today’s federal arrests, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting an additional 15 people who were arrested for selling drugs in Ellenville.

The arrests were announced by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT); Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright; New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett; and Village of Ellenville Police Chief Philip Mattracion.

United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith stated: “Our efforts to protect our communities from drug dealers who peddle poison rely on teamwork.  Thanks to federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation, a group that sold deadly drugs in the Ellenville area will now be held accountable in the courts.”

“Naveo and his crew monopolized the drug game in the town of Ellenville and sold deadly fentanyl-laced drugs, showing little regard for the life of users,” said Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York. “Relying on his criminal reputation, he intimidated any would-be competitors to remain the only game in town. Today’s arrests rid Ellenville of the organization that polluted their communities with dangerous drugs, and reflects HSI’s commitment to work closely with the URGENT partners.”

Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa stated: “Interagency cooperation and shared resources between local, state and federal authorities are keys to keeping criminals at bay. Our communities need to be safe, today is a reminder of the combined effort of law enforcement to keep the peace.”

The federal defendants, all Ellenville residents, are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including crack cocaine and heroin mixed with fentanyl, and they face the following penalties:

Naveo is also charged with unlawful possession of a Mossberg shotgun as a previously convicted felon.

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. 

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The federal and state cases are being investigated by HSI; the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT, an inter-agency taskforce targeting drug dealers and gang members in Ulster County; the New York State Police; the Village of Ellenville Police; and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance provided by the New York State Office of Disability and Temporary Assistance.  The federal case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.