Undercover Drug Task Force Sting Leads To Capture Of Dutchess County Drug Dealer: DA

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NY —The Dutchess County District Attorney's Office says that their Drug Task Force successfully executed a search warrant at a City of Poughkeepsie home, after a narcotics investigation.

Drug Task Force agents launched their investigation after they received information about a suspected dealer selling narcotics and dangerous drugs out of a South Hamilton Street apartment. Agents identified 39-year-old Leon V. Allen as the person suspected of distributing narcotics in the city.

During the investigation, agents purchased illegal drugs from Allen, which led to a search warrant for several apartments at the address believed to be used for the storage, concealment and distribution of narcotics and dangerous drugs, according to investigators.

On Dec. 10, Drug Task Force agents, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Unit (SWAT), and the Poughkeepsie SWAT team executed the search warrant. During the search, they seized large amounts of cocaine, drug packaging materials, cash, digital scales and other items associated with the sale and distribution of narcotics, authorities said.

Allen was charged with felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was then arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail without bail. Authorities say that there are several sales charges pending against Allen related to this case.

The Sheriff's Office said that this investigation and enforcement action were made possible through close collaboration between the Drug Task Force and the NYSP Community Stabilization Unit, the City of Poughkeepsie Neighborhood Recovery Unit, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office Patrol Bureaus, the Town of Poughkeepsie and City Police Departments, the City of Beacon Police Department, the Town of Hyde Park Police Department, the Town of East Fishkill Police Department, and the Town of Fishkill Police Department.

If anyone has information about this case or about any others selling drugs in Dutchess County, they are urged to contact the Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or email tips to this email address.