POUGHKEEPSIE – A 110-count indictment has charged 12 members of a large narcotics trafficking ring in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties with selling thousands of prescription pills include oxycodone, amphetamine, diazepam, clonazepam, and buprenorphine to dozens of customers on a daily basis.
The indictment, unsealed in Dutchess County Court on Tuesday charges the 12 alleged co-conspirators with conspiracy, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance and other charges.
If convicted, they could face 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison.
The takedown was dubbed “Operation Candy Crush” because of the defendants’ reference to prescription pills as “candy” and “skittles.”
Arrested are:
Kimberly Bevan, 33, of Poughkeepsie
Timothy Cherry, 54, of Newburgh
James Lee Davis, also known as “Jim-Bob,” 59, of Newburgh
Michael DuBois, also known as “Michael Brandon,” 39, of Newburgh
John Loverro, also known as “Johnny Boy,” 54, of Poughkeepsie
Michael Rhodes, 40, of Poughkeepsie
Savanna Sherow, 19, of Hyde Park
Trisha Sucato, 49, of Highland
Mark Thomas, also known as “Uncle Mark,” 56, of Poughkeepsie
Nicole Vantassell, 42, of Poughkeepsie
Samantha Vantassell, 35, of Poughkeepsie
Arthur Volgarino, Jr., 59, of Hopewell Junction
In a separate indictment, Samantha Vantassell is charged with creating a fictitious Instagram account under another person’s name to disseminate a post threatening a school shooting at Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park. She was charged with making a terrorist threat and criminal impersonation for posting a photo of an individual holding what appeared to be an assault rifle with the caption, “going through a lot right now can’t go to school I’m feeling like shooting Roosevelt school up.” She could face up to seven years in prison on that charge.
The investigations were conducted by the State Attorney General’s Office, the US Army National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the State Police.
