Hudson Valley Cocaine and Fentanyl Trafficking Network Dismantled: AG

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A massive Hudson Valley drug trafficking ring has been dismantled, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Thursday.

Seven members of the narcotics trafficking network, which illegally sold cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Westchester counties, were arrested and indicted.

The 155-count indictment charges Shamique Delaine, Jonte Hatcher, Romell Hearn, Nicole Kane, Daquan Killian, and Dwan Scafe with conspiracy and trafficking cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. A seventh defendant, Damian Cunningham, is charged with trafficking cocaine.

The investigation, led by the Office of the Attorney General's (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) seized more than 10,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl worth approximately $75,000, over eight kilograms of cocaine worth approximately $200,000, three firearms, including a ghost gun, and $14,000 in cash.

"Counterfeit opioids containing deadly amounts of fentanyl are a grave threat to New Yorkers," James said. "Our investigation dismantled a drug trafficking network that was responsible for moving massive quantities of dangerous narcotics throughout the Hudson Valley, where communities have been hit hard by the opioid crisis. My office remains committed to tackling this crisis from every angle, and I thank the New York State Police for their cooperation and diligent work on this investigation that took dangerous drugs and guns off our streets."

Thursday's sting was the result of a twelve-month joint investigation led by OCTF and the New York State Police's (NYSP) Special Investigations Unit – Hudson Valley (SIU-HV) and Troop K – Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (K-VGNET). The investigation included the use of controlled narcotics and firearm purchase operations, hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance, court-authorized wiretapping of cellphones and the analysis of voluminous electronic evidence, including cellphone communications, according to the AG.

During the investigation, the defendants and their co-conspirators frequently used coded and cryptic terminology to try and disguise their illicit activities, according to investigators. The traffickers referred to the counterfeit oxycodone pills as "blues" and used "soft" as a codeword for cocaine.

The investigation centered on the actions of Nicole Kane, who purchased cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from Daquan Killian, Romell Hearn, and Jonte Hatcher for further distribution, according to the indictment.

Investigators say Kane made sales from her home in Highland, and sourced counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from Killian at his home and at a Price Chopper Supermarket in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Hearn also sold cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone in Poughkeepsie, including at a local AutoZone parking lot. Meanwhile, police said Hatcher made cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone sales in Poughkeepsie, as well as near the Newburgh Mall in Orange County.

Investigators said that Hearn was working together with Dwan Scafe out of a stash house in Poughkeepsie to possess, store, supply, and distribute cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in Dutchess County.

In March of 2024, Scafe sold a kilogram of cocaine to Damian Cunningham which was seized by police during a car stop in Westchester County, according to police. During search warrant executions in Poughkeepsie in May 2024, a loaded firearm, a high-capacity magazine, and an additional six kilograms of cocaine were reportedly seized from Hearn and Scafe. During search warrant executions in August 2024, a loaded firearm and approximately 450 grams of cocaine were reportedly seized from Hatcher and Shamique Delaine. The investigation also recovered a Polymer 80 ghost gun sold by Kane.

According to the AG's office, the investigation into the narcotics trafficking network led to the recovery of over eight kilograms of cocaine, with an approximate street value of $200,000; over 10,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, with an approximate street value of $75,000; three illegal firearms, including one ghost gun, and two high-capacity magazines; drug paraphernalia, including scales, ziplock bags, and other packaging materials, used to package and measure narcotics; and approximately $14,000 in cash.

The 155-count indictment, unsealed Thursday in Dutchess County Court, charges various felony narcotics offenses, including felony first and second degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, which carry maximum sentences of 24 years incarceration and 14 years incarceration, respectively, as well as conspiracy to commit those crimes. Hatcher, Kane, Hearn, and Scafe are also charged with firearms offenses, including felony second degree criminal possession of a weapon. Hearn and Scafe are charged with operating as major traffickers, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Those charged in Thursday's indictment include:

• Damian Cunningham, 40, of Mount Vernon
• Shamique Delaine, 33, of Poughkeepsie
• Jonte Hatcher a/k/a "Diggs," 41, of Poughkeepsie
• Romell Hearn a/k/a "Mel," 45, of Poughkeepsie
• Nicole Kane, 36, of Highland
• Daquan Killian, 32, of Poughkeepsie
• Dwan Scafe, 36, of Poughkeepsie

"Today's arrests are part of an aggressive strategy to target the networks that are bringing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics into downstate communities," State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. said. "State Police will continue to partner with local law enforcement and the Attorney General’s Office to shut these illegal operations down and put the perpetrators behind bars."