Two men are facing felony drug charges after an April 29 sweep by the Dutchess County Drug Task Force targeting alleged fentanyl and cocaine dealing in and around Poughkeepsie. Authorities identified the suspects as 30-year-old Tysheed McPhee and 33-year-old Raquan Storts, both charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. Investigators executed several search warrants that turned up fentanyl, cash, packaging materials and scales, according to officials, and both men were later arraigned and released.
Investigation and scope
According to the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, the investigation began when agents identified two people allegedly working together to move fentanyl and cocaine across multiple communities. The suspected operation stretched across the Town and City of Poughkeepsie, the Town of Fishkill and the City of Beacon, with leads that reached into the Capital Region, Westchester County and New York City.
How the arrests unfolded
Investigators say the case ramped up after, as the District Attorney's Office put it, "Agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from the defendants." Those undercover buys set up the takedown on April 29.
Officials report that Storts was stopped and arrested on the Mid-Hudson Bridge as he entered Dutchess County, turning a routine crossing into a felony collar. McPhee was taken into custody at the Harriet Tubman Terrace apartments during the execution of a search warrant. Additional warrants were carried out at Poughkeepsie Commons (130 Hudson Ave.) and 35 Franklin St., where officers say they recovered fentanyl, U.S. currency, packaging, scales and other items associated with drug distribution, according to the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office.
Court status
Both defendants were arraigned in the Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court and released, with instructions to return to court on May 4. Multiple charges are pending, and prosecutors say additional counts tied to drug possession and sales could be filed as the investigation continues, Newport Dispatch reported.
Legal implications
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree is a class B felony under New York law, a serious charge that can bring substantial prison time if a conviction is obtained, according to FindLaw. As in every criminal case, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
Why this matters
The arrests are part of what officials describe as a broader, intelligence-driven crackdown by the Drug Task Force aimed at disrupting fentanyl distribution and reducing overdose risk. Task force activity in 2025 was described as a "record year," with dozens of search warrants and felony arrests tied to narcotics enforcement. The unit's tally for that year included 37 warrants, 75 felony arrests and 230 covert drug buys, according to reporting by Hudson Valley Country.
