Smith
MONTICELLO – A five-day trial in Sullivan County Court ended with the conviction of a Fallsburg man on several drug-related counts.
The jury deliberated for only a half-hour on Tuesday before finding Ronald Smith, also known as “Tubbs,” 44, of conspiracy, criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence, all as felonies.
Smith was arrested on September 18, 2017 at his apartment after a lengthy investigation by the State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, which was assisted by Fallsburg Police, the DA’s office, sheriff’s office, FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the New Jersey State Police.
District Attorney James Farrell personally prosecuted the case. He said the execution of a search warrant on September 8, 2017 revealed Smith possessed over 20 bricks of heroin – 1,000 bags – in the apartment, and 31 bricks of heroin – 1,550 bags – in a stash location in the Village of Liberty.
During the investigation, State Police purchased approximately 900 bags of heroin from a co-conspirator and accomplice.
Smith was convicted of conspiring to sell over a half ounce of heroin, and possession of heroin found in the apartment and stash location. He was also found guilty of offering for sale over one-half ounce of heroin to an undercover police officer and tampering with physical evidence by throwing 20 bags of heroin out a bedroom window after the warrant team breached the door.
Smith will be sentenced by Judge Frank LaBuda on August 10. Smith must mandatorily be sentenced as a second felony offender and may also face persistent felony offender treatment as he has been previously convicted of five different drug felonies including felony drug possession in 2012 in Orange County Court; felony drug sales in Kings County Court in 2006; drug possession with intent to sell as a felony in Sullivan County Court in 2001; felony drug possession in 1999 in Sullivan County Court; and felony drug possession in 1998 in Sullivan County Court.
Smith was also on parole for his most recent drug conviction when the conspiracy began in February 2017.
He faces 25 years to life in prison as a persistent felony offender. Farrell said he would likely seek an enhanced sentence for Smith for his leadership role in the conspiracy to distribute heroin and the sale of heroin in this case.
“There comes a time when enough is enough and Smith has demonstrated that, when he at liberty in the community, he is a clear and present danger to our community,” the DA said.
