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Press Release

Ulster County Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine and Fentanyl Conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Luis Curet, age 34, of Ellenville, New York, pled guilty today to his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that operated in Ulster County. 

The announcement was made 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 Superintendent Keith M. Corlett; and Village of Ellenville Police Chief Philip Mattracion.

Curet admitted that between November and December 2018, he operated a stash house, and assisted in the distribution of crack cocaine and heroin laced with fentanyl to street dealers on behalf of the organization. 

Curet faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $5 million.  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 following defendants have also pled guilty in connection with the conspiracy, and face the following penalties:

Name

Age

Minimum

Maximum

Edwin Jorge

46

None

20 years

Randy Mandiville, aka “B-Murda”

30

None

20 years

The following defendants still face charges in this case, and face the following penalties:

Name

Age

Minimum

Maximum

Antonio Naveo, aka “Gratto,” aka “Green Eyes”

38

10 years

Life

Margaret Vandyke

56

10 years

Life

Iqwan Mandiville, aka “Qwan”

26

5 years

40 years

Jennifer McCombs, aka “Jennifer Marks”

49

5 years

40 years

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

The charges against these defendants are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is 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, and the New York State Police, with assistance from the Village of Ellenville Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.

 

Updated September 24, 2019

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids