POUGHKEEPSIE – A pre-dawn series of drug raids in the City of Poughkeepsie and surrounding areas on Wednesday morning resulted in four arrests and the seizure of a substantial amount of narcotics along with three firearms.
The multi-agency investigation and raids were spearheaded by the DEA with the assistance of the New York State Police and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department. The sweep resulted in the seizure of more than 15 kilograms of narcotics including powder cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, and 1.5 kilograms of substances containing fentanyl, along with three weapons. Arrested were Michael Nicholas, a/k/a “Pop,” Darren Parker, a/k/a “Born,” Regina Cummings, a/k/a “Gina,” and Jaquon Dancy, a/k/a “Wiz,” on various narcotics-related offenses. 25-year-old Dancy, who lives on Gray Street, has an arrest record that includes heroin-related offenses.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said “The fact that these individuals are facing charges today demonstrates the degree of danger their alleged drug trafficking was to the City of Poughkeepsie. I commend our law enforcement partners who continue to keep our cities safe.”
During search warrant operations of Nicholas’s residence in Poughkeepsie, law enforcement recovered approximately 15 kilograms of narcotics, including powder cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, and approximately 1.5 kilograms of substances containing fentanyl. Three firearms were also recovered from Nicholas’s residence.
According to the DEA, Not only were those arrested a large source of supply in Poughkeepsie and the surrounding area, they were poly-drug traffickers dealing in crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and “Grey Death”. “Grey Death” is simply the street name traffickers are giving to the fentanyl and heroin combination that has an off white or grey color and is potentially lethal. Grey Death has a higher potency of heroin, it is injected, ingested, insufflated, or smoked.
Indictments unsealed in the US District Court in White Plains on Wednesday have charged the individuals as follows:
Nicholas, 33, of Poughkeepsie, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is also charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Parker, 51, of Poughkeepsie, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Cummings, 51, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Dancy, 25, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said “As alleged, these defendants trafficked in large amounts of fentanyl and other narcotics in and around Dutchess County. Fentanyl is one of the leading causes of overdose deaths and it has devastated communities across Dutchess County and the Southern District of New York. I commend our law enforcement partners in stopping those who allegedly traffic in fentanyl and other narcotics.”
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Shiva H. Logarajah is in charge of the prosecution.
