11 Defendants Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Narcotics Trafficking In Rockland County

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Thomas P. Zugibe, Rockland County District Attorney, Chris Goldrick,  Director of the Rockland County Drug Task Force, and Charles Miller, Town of Haverstraw Police Chief, today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging eleven defendants with trafficking in cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Rockland County, New York.  Eleven defendants were taken into federal custody today, and will be presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith.  This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Roman.  In a related prosecution, New York State has indicted an additional five defendants.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “As alleged, the eleven men charged today were part of a narcotics distribution network that peddled large quantities of powder and crack cocaine all around Rockland County.  The residents of our communities are entitled to live and work free from the ills of narcotics trafficking.  Our joint effort with the FBI, Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Rockland County Drug Task Force and Haverstraw Police Department brings us closer to that goal.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez said:  “For over two years, a drug trafficking organization allegedly led by Jemel Goode, trafficked and sold cocaine and crack cocaine in Rockland County.  Today, with our partners in the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, in coordination with the Rockland County Drug Task Force, we can announce the arrest of 11 members of this organization. We will continue our investigations and work with local partners to clear our communities of violence and drugs.”

Rockland County District Attorney Zugibe stated:  “This investigation is another example of local and federal law enforcement working together to reduce drug dealing that too often plagues our community.  The charges are the result of hundreds of hours of investigation and surveillance over a 12-month period, led by the Rockland County Drug Task Force. Not only were we able to arrest street dealers, but also the two brothers who were allegedly running the large-scale cocaine distribution network.  ‘Operation No Goode’ underscores law enforcement’s collective commitment to ridding our towns and villages of illegal drug activity.”

Rockland County Drug Task Force Director Chris Goldrick said, “The defendants are accused of being part of a sweeping operation dealing in drugs all across Rockland County. These charges are the result of hundreds of hours of investigation and surveillance over a year-long period. Working closely with our partners at the local and federal levels, technology and physical surveillance allowed detectives to uncover the entire operation from the bosses to the street-level couriers. We will continue to work together to keep our residents safe.”

Town of Haverstraw Police Chief Charles Miller stated:  “These arrests are the result of a coordinated law enforcement and prosecutorial initiative to rid our community of dangerous drug dealers. The Haverstraw Police Department and our law abiding residents will not tolerate the illegal narcotics trade on our streets.  This case clearly demonstrates the success that can be achieved through local and federal law enforcement cooperation.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court[1]:

From July 2014, up to and including July 2016, : JEMEL GOODE, a/k/a “J Rock,” BENANCIO CABA, a/k/a “Bennie Caba,” LASEAN GOODE, a/k/a “Bones,” EDWIN HILARIO, ANEUDI JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Fat Bastard,” QUELVIN LOPEZ, NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, SR., NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, JR., a/k/a “Quan,” ALEXANDER SCUDDER, DUANE TAYLOR, a/k/a “Daquan Jenkins,” a/k/a “Antwan Scott,” and SHARRAHN WALTON conspired to sell cocaine and crack cocaine.  Specifically, the defendants JEMEL GOODE, LASEAN GOODE CABA, NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, SR., NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, JR., TAYLOR, and WALTON, conspired to sell 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.  The defendants CABA, SCUDDER, HILARIO, LOPEZ, and JIMENEZ conspired to sell 500 grams or more of cocaine.  During the course of the conspiracy, law enforcement officers observed several defendants participate in the sale of cocaine and crack cocaine to confidential informants working with law enforcement and to an undercover law enforcement officer.  Law enforcement officers using court-authorized wiretaps also intercepted numerous communications in which the defendants discussed trafficking cocaine and crack and arranged sales of both narcotics. 

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A chart containing the names of the defendants, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, is attached.        

The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Rockland County Drug Task Force, and the Town of Haverstraw Police Department. 

These cases are being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Clore and Lauren Schorr are in charge of the prosecutions.

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