Orange County Man Admits Being Major Drug Trafficker

OTISVILLE, NY — An Orange County man admitted to trafficking drugs in the Hudson Valley and Connecticut.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said Antonio Perez-Molina, 42, of Otisville, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to operating as a major trafficker.

The plea was entered after a jury trial had begun.

Under the plea agreement, Perez-Molina faces up to 18 years to life in prison when he is sentenced March 18.

The district attorney’s office said the charges against him and numerous other co-defendants stemmed from a long-term drug sale and possession operation.

On Aug. 18, 2021, the New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, in conjunction with the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut State’s Attorney Office and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, conducted an enforcement action dubbed “Operation Off the Brick,” involving the trafficking of cocaine in Orange County and Connecticut.

Search warrants were executed at several locations: the village of Otisville, city of Middletown, town of Blooming Grove and Ulster County hamlet of Kerhonksen.

In addition, the Connecticut State Police executed search warrants on Aug. 5, 2021, and Aug. 18, 2021.

The search warrants resulted in the seizure of more than 1,100 grams of cocaine, three loaded handguns, one shotgun and about $70,000 in cash.

At the plea proceeding, Perez-Molina admitted he acted as a director of a controlled substance organization during a period of 12 months or less, during which period his organization sold cocaine, and the proceeds collected or due from such sale or sales had a total aggregate value of $75,000 or more.

Hoovler said the focus was put on long-term narcotics investigations because the major traffickers unveiled in these investigations pose the greatest risk of causing death in our communities.

“Our results speak for themselves on these matters,” he said. “The defendant in this case will have 18 years to think about all of those individuals that he poisoned or put at grave risk of death in order to benefit himself.”