A three-month investigation into illegal drug activity in Ulster County came to a head in the pre-dawn hours on Thursday morning, when police raided homes and arrested 16 people in Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties on multiple drug sale and possession charges.
The investigation carried out by the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT), a collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement. During the investigation, undercover URGENT officers bought about 20 grams of cocaine, 1000 decks of heroin, and black-market prescription drugs from those arrested.
Of the 16 people arrested, police say, 13 were indicted by an Ulster County grand jury, and sealed indictment warrants were issued for their arrest. The remaining three were arrested on warrants.
Arrested during the raids on Thursday:
-Iqwan Mandiville, age 21, of 78 Clinton St., Napanoch
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (3 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (3 counts)
Bail: None
-Fateen T. Akbar, age 29, of Dutchess County Jail, Poughkeepsie
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd (3 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd (3 counts)
Bail: None
-Juanita Amador-Velazquez, age 47, of 21 Maple Ave., Ellenville
Charges: Fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (1 count), fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (1 count) Amador-Velazquez was arraigned in Ellenville village court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail.
Bail: $50,000.00 cash or $100,000 bond
-Ryan Gruber, age 26, of 47 Derrenbacher St., Kingston
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (2 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
-Donna M. Vantassell, age 46, of 254 Glenerie Blvd., Saugerties
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (2 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
-Christopher L. Ronda, age 33, of 363 Mettachonts Rd., Accord
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (2 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
-Melissa A. Gallo, age 32, of 12 Alberts Ave., Rosendale
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (1 count), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (1 count) Bail: None
-Jason V. Morano, age 34, of 12 Alberts Ave., Rosendale.
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (3 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (3 counts)
Bail: None
-Justin D. Klare, age 21, of 19 Burnett Rd. Saugerties
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (2 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
-Ana Jacobson, age 22, of 19 Burnett Rd., Saugerties
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (2 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
-Peter N. Golgoski, age 36, of 88 Mountain Rd., Rosendale
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (3 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (3 counts)
Golgoski was arraigned in City of Kingston Court.
Bail: None
-Rachael L. Armbruster, age 25, of 60 Terwilliger Rd., Kerhonkson
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (1 count), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
-Jacob D. Lester, age 30, of 60 Terwilliger Rd. Kerhonkson
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (4 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (4 counts)
Bail: None
-Hunter S. Falck, age 27, of 50 42nd St., Kerhonkson
Charges: Attempted third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (1 count), attempted third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (1 count)
Falck was arraigned in City of Kingston court.
Bail: $5000.00 cash or $10,000.00 bond
-Jahdeem A. Meade, age 23, of 2 Chadwick Gardens, Newburgh
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (3 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (3 counts)
Bail: None
-Jerrod C. Anderson, age 29, of 1435 Creek Locks Rd., Eddyville
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (2 counts), third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)
Bail: None
URGENT members were assisted with the arrests by the US Marshal’s NY/NJ Fugitive Task Force, New York State Police, Village of Ellenville Police, Kingston Police, City and Town of Poughkeepsie Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, City of Newburgh Police, Town of Rosendale Police, Town of Lloyd Police uniformed patrol, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office uniformed deputies, Ulster County Sheriff’s K-9 team, Ulster County Sheriff’s Corrections and Mobile Life Support Tactical Medics.
The following agencies have members assigned to URGENT: Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Woodstock Police, Town of Lloyd Police, Town of Shandaken Police, Ulster County Probation, Town of Plattekill Police, Town of New Paltz Police and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
