9 Defendants Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Narcotics Offenses In Orange County

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), George Beach, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), Carl E. Dubois, the Sheriff of Orange County, and Daniel C. Cameron, Chief of the City of Newburgh Police Department,  today announced the unsealing of two Indictments charging 10 members of two drug trafficking organizations based in Orange County, New York, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.  Additionally, two other members were arrested on separate complaints.  In a coordinated operation earlier today, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested eight defendants in Orange County and the Bronx.  One of the charged defendants had already been arrested and presented.  Most of the defendants are expected to be presented in White Plains federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated:  “The narcotics charges brought today strike at the heart of an entrenched group of alleged drug dealers operating out of Newburgh and the surrounding areas of Orange County.  With today’s charges, made possible by the outstanding work of the FBI, ICE HSI, and our state and local law enforcement partners, we seek to help stem the flow of cocaine in Orange County.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. stated: “The ultimate goal in an investigation like this is to take out the leadership of these groups. It’s not just the drugs that take a toll on the communities where these subjects were operating, it’s the crime accompanying the drugs that impacts everyone. The FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners will continue to do all we can to stop the spread of the drug trade and the criminals who support it.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel Melendez said:  “With many of the individuals arrested today facing up to 40 years in prison if convicted, we have sent a clear message to drug dealers in Orange County that they should immediately seek other employment.  HSI will remain steadfast in its commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to dismantle these drug trafficking organizations that destroy our neighborhoods with their poison.”

NYSP Superintendent George P. Beach II said:  “Today’s arrests are a result of an aggressive strategy to stop illegal drug trafficking and keep cocaine and other deadly substances off our streets.  Together, with our partners in federal, local and state law enforcement, we can combat the infiltration of narcotics into our communities and continue to put dangerous individuals like these 11 criminals behind bars.”

Orange County Sheriff Carl E. DuBois stated:  “These arrests prove once again that agencies cooperating with each other benefit the communities they serve.  The FBI Safe Streets Task Force has been instrumental in dismantling drug networks in the Hudson Valley area, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is proud to participate with and support the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s office and other participating agencies.”

City of Newburgh Police Chief Daniel C. Cameron stated:  “Collaborative efforts like this are critical to targeting high level narcotics traffickers who plague our cities.  When we all work together in this capacity, we can truly improve the quality of life for the residents in Newburgh, Orange County, and across the state.”          

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

RIGOBERTO DIAZ, JAIRO ESQUIVIAS, a/k/a “Jalisco,” JUAN ROMERO, SAUL GARZON, ANDRES RIOS, and JUAN SANCHEZ PEREZ are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams of cocaine, from 2013 to September 2016.  DIAZ and his alleged co-conspirators distributed cocaine in and around the City of Newburgh, New York, and other locations in Orange County, New York. 

ADAN SOLIS-TEYO, a/k/a “Adan Hernandez,” CHRISTOPHER POOL, LUIS SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Eito,” and LUIS MEJIA, a/k/a “Miguel Contreras,” are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams of cocaine, from 2014 to February 2017.  SOLIS-TEYO and his alleged co-conspirators distributed cocaine in and around the City of Newburgh, New York, and in the Bronx, New York.

WILLIAM PERELDA, a/k/a “William Peralda,” a/k/a “Arturo Pelez-Gonzalez,” was charged by complaint and arrested on February 11, 2017.  PERELDA is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine.  PERELDA is also charged with five counts of distribution of cocaine based on sales of cocaine to a cooperating witness.   

All of the defendants except SOLIS-TEYO and MEJIA were arrested today. 

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Charts containing the names of the defendants who were charged today, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, are attached.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational 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 Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Village of Port Chester Police Department. 

These cases are being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Burns, Lauren Schorr, and Olga Zverovich are in charge of the prosecutions.

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