Justin Torres, a 37-year-old Ellenville resident, was handed a 37-month prison sentence for his role in a drug trafficking network that traded in fentanyl and cocaine within Ulster County. Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, along with officials from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Ulster County Sheriff's office, have stated Torres admitted to distributing around 580 grams of cocaine and 200 grams of fentanyl during his time with the organization, as per information from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York.
The case, leaving no stone unturned by local and federal law enforcement, has brought Torres and 10 other defendants to justice as part of ongoing efforts to stifle the flow of narcotics in the region. Among those sentenced, Joshuan Atkinson received a 156-month prison term while Christopher Baez and Michael Herry were sentenced to 71 and 27 months, respectively. Upcoming sentences are awaited for defendants Joshua Morales, Joseph Logan, and Timothy Hutcherson, with the former scheduled for December 3, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sarcone III expressed the relentless commitment towards dismantling drug trafficking operations in the region. "This case demonstrates our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations in Ulster County, where Justin Torres and his co-conspirators sold cocaine and fentanyl," he stated. The Acting U.S. Attorney praised the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement and criticized the state's cashless bail law, advocating for its repeal to curb the revolving door of crime, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Underscoring the collaborative nature of the operation, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa highlighted the joint efforts in tackling the local drug problem. "This was a collaborative effort consisting of federal, state and local law enforcement. Drug trafficking continues to affect local communities and is a nexus to crime spikes," Figueroa told the U.S. Attorney's Office. Task forces such as URGENT, the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team, played a critical role in the investigation and subsequent legal actions that led to the convictions.
The investigation was conducted by a partnership between HSI, Ulster County Sheriff's Office with URGENT, New York State Police, Ellenville Police Department, White Plains Police Department, and with assistance from the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. The OCDETF operation also contributed to the bust, utilizing a multi-agency approach to dismantle high-level criminal organizations. Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a $5,000 fine and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Torres's release from prison.
