State Police, City of Newburgh Police arrest 15 for narcotics trafficking

The New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announce the arrest of 15 individuals charged for their role in a drug trafficking operation.

In addition to the arrests, law enforcement seized 1,000 bags of heroin, 45 grams of loose heroin, 15 grams of cocaine, two handguns and and $9,000 in cash.

In August 2015, members of the New York State Police CNET Hudson Valley, along with the City of Newburgh Police Department, began to receive information regarding large quantities of heroin being distributed in the City of Newburgh. The narcotics were being sold to users from all over Orange County, as well as surrounding counties.

During the investigation, police were able to identify 36-year-old Earl Melvin of First Street in Newburgh as one of the main distributors of heroin in the city.

On June 7, State Police along with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, City and Town of Newburgh Police, City of Middletown Police, Town of Woodbury Police, Town of New Windsor Police and the Westchester County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants and took 15 individuals into custody for their involvement in the operation.

1. EARL MELVIN, 36, Newburgh, NY
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 2nd Degree

2. ANGELA DANIELLO, 27, Newburgh, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

3. KEITH J. FORD, 65, Newburgh, NY
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

4. DAMIEN GARCIA, 37, Newburgh, NY
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

5. JAMEL A. JOHNSON, 20, Newburgh, NY
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree

6. LAVAR F. RUFFIN, 38, Newburgh, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree

7. WILLIAM D. JOHNSON, 39, Newburgh, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

8. ANGEL A. RODRIGUEZ, JR., 41, Bronx, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

9. BOICE H. WHEELER, JR., 60, Newburgh, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

10. EBAN I. CARRION, 45, Middletown, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

11. CRAIG S. CAPUTO, 37, Beacon, NY
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

12. RAYMOND RIVERA, 49, Newburgh, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

13. JERMAINE MAYS, 33, Newburgh, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

14. CHRISTIAN TEJADA, 32, Howard Beach, NY
Conspiracy 2nd Degree

15. WHITNEY LAMB, 29 (homeless)
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree (two counts)