Time Behind Bars For Man Who Brought Drugs Into Jail

PORT JERVIS, NY — An Orange County man who admitted he brought drugs into jail to sell found out his sentence Tuesday.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said Dashell Powlus, 25, of Port Jervis, was sentenced to nine years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision following his guilty plea to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, in connection with his having fentanyl and intending to sell it.

While waiting for sentencing for that conviction, Hoovler said Powlus was charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband, a felony, for which he was sentenced to two to four years in state prison.

Prosecutors said Powlus had been the subject of an investigation by the City of Port Jervis Police Department into the sale of heroin.

A search warrant was executed April 30, 2021, at his apartment on East Main Street in Port Jervis.

Officers found 123 glassine envelopes of fentanyl, a digital scale and additional glassine bags, as well as money.

An Orange County grand jury charged Powlus with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance for possessing fentanyl with the intent to sell it, as well as with selling narcotics April 27-28, 2021.

At the time Powlus pleaded guilty, he admitted he was intending to sell the fentanyl that was recovered from his apartment, prosecutors said.

While waiting to be sentenced for the fentanyl charges, he was charged with acting alone and in concert with others to introduce suboxone into the Orange County Jail. He pleaded guilty to the additional charges and admitted to his conduct.

Hoovler said fentanyl continues to be the scourge of those fighting against drugs.

“It is responsible for the marked increase in overdose deaths here in Orange County and elsewhere,” he said.