12 Arrested In Massive Cocaine Trafficking Ring Takedown: AG

MID-HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Twelve Hudson Valley residents were accused Wednesday of flooding communities in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region with huge amounts of illegal drugs.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the 12 individuals trafficked more than $1 million worth of cocaine and thousands of dollars worth of pills throughout Ulster, Dutchess and Saratoga counties.

She said they also illegally possessed firearms, including assault weapons, and high-capacity magazines.

James said that any drug operation that floods the streets with heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine endangers New Yorkers.

"But this operation was especially dangerous because they sold drugs that were intentionally disguised as prescription pills and were heavily armed with assault weapons and other firearms," she said.

"Stopping gun violence and the opioid crisis requires action from every angle, and today's takedown is the latest example of our commitment to using every tool possible to protect our communities," James said.

The 11-month investigation was dubbed "Operation GTL," due to the guns, trafficking of narcotics and laundering of proceeds.

Prosecutors said the following were recovered:

• 11 kilograms of cocaine, worth about $1.2 million
• 15,000 methamphetamine pills, disguised as Adderall pills, worth about $100,000
• 5,000 artificial Xanax pills, worth about $50,000
• 750 heroin pills, disguised as oxycodone, worth about $20,000
• 39 firearms, including four assault weapons
• 40 high-capacity magazines
• Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
• $120,000 in cash

Hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance were involved, authorities said, as well as court-authorized wiretapping of cellular telephones and review of phone records and law enforcement databases.

During electronic surveillance, the defendants and their co-conspirators frequently utilized coded and cryptic terminology in an attempt to disguise their illicit activities, such as referring to cocaine as “girl,” “lady” or “white”; heroin pills as “blues,” “blueberries” or “berries”; methamphetamine pills as “peaches” or “oranges”; and artificial Xanax pills as “greens,” “green beans” or “beans.”

In the first of two indictments, 11 people were charged for their roles in two conspiracies: one in which they sold and possessed illegal pills disguised as pharmaceutical grade drugs and the other in which they sold and possessed cocaine.

Prosecutors said Christopher Pulichene operated an illegal pill distribution network in Ulster, Dutchess and Saratoga counties and elsewhere. Pulichene purchased heroin pills from Alton Countryman, who was supported by his wife, Thekla Countryman, and Joshua Guldy. Alton Countryman created the heroin pills in his home in Kingston and disguised them to look like pharmaceutical grade oxycodone pills. The heroin pills were blue, round and included the imprint “A 215,” which is found on pharmaceutical grade oxycodone pills. Pulichene then sold those heroin pills to defendants Thomas Colon, Julia Eaton and Zachary Vanvlack, according to authorities.

In the second conspiracy, Pulichene ran an illegal cocaine distribution network. He obtained the drug from a source in the Gulf Coast and then sold the cocaine to others.

Besides the drugs, investigators seized 39 firearms, including assault weapons, 40 high-capacity magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunitions, riot gear and other weapons.

The indictment contains 275 counts for various felony narcotic offenses, including against Pulichene for operating as a major trafficker, which carries a maximum sentence of life in state prison.

In the second indictment, Robert Curry is charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and three counts associated with cocaine possession within the city of Kingston.

Those charged in the two indictments are:

• Christopher Pulichene, 39, of New Paltz
• Ralph Banks, Jr., 50, of Saugerties
• Thomas Colon, 60, of Saugerties
• Alton Countryman, 35, of Kingston
• Thekla Countryman, 35, of Kingston
• Robert Curry, 42, of Albany
• Kevin Drake, Jr., 32, of Kingston
• Julia Eaton, 34, of Gansevoort
• Joshua Guldy, 21, of Kingston
• Nicholas Lasusa, 31, of Saugerties
• Zachary Vanvlack, 34, of Wappingers Falls
• Devyn Wolny, 24, of New Paltz

Ulster County Sheriff Juan J. Figueroa said that his county has seen an increase in drug use, drug overdoses and gun violence, but this case was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in its history.

"This case establishes the need of local law enforcement to collaborate with state agencies that have the assets and expertise of long-term investigations," he said.

The takedown of the trafficking ring was the result of an 11-month joint-investigation led by James's office, the Organized Crime Task Force, the Ulster County Sheriff's Office and the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team. They were supported by the Ulster County District Attorney's Office, the Dutchess County Drug Task Force, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police.