ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nine defendants have been indicted and arrested for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl in Kingston, Ellenville and other areas of Ulster County.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; and Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT).
The organization is alleged to have distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine and fentanyl between March 2021 and January 2023, in Kingston, Ellenville and other areas of Ulster County. In executing search warrants on multiple residences in Ellenville, White Plains, the Bronx and Manhattan, law enforcement seized approximately 4 kilograms of fentanyl, 500 grams of cocaine, $600,000 in drug proceeds, and five firearms. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney Carla Freedman stated: “With today’s arrests we have dismantled an organization that brought large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl into the Hudson Valley. This case is the result of the close collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that produces successful and significant drug trafficking prosecutions in Ulster County.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan Arvelo stated: “These 9 individuals are accused of drug-related crimes, all of which were allegedly part of their unlawful pursuit of money and power. But that ends today. HSI New York is proud to have partnered with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police. Our shared commitment toward accomplishing our ultimate goal — justice — knows no bounds.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa stated: “Today’s operation is the culmination of hard work and collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Ulster County District Attorney’s Office and our Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Task Force. Today we dismantled a drug trafficking organization that would have continued to distribute fentanyl in New York City, Westchester County and the Hudson Valley that could have killed people. The crimes associated with this organization and the negative impact they had on our communities cannot be understated. Great job to all of the agencies involved.”
The defendants arrested to date, all of whom are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, would face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment upon conviction:
|
Name |
Age |
Residence |
Minimum Term of Imprisonment |
Maximum Term of Imprisonment |
|
Christopher Baez, aka “Butta” |
45 |
Manhattan, New York |
10 years |
Life |
|
Joseph Logan, aka “Jazz” aka “Jabb” |
32 |
Ellenville, New York |
5 years |
40 years |
|
Joshua Morales, aka “Young” |
34 |
Ellenville |
5 years |
40 years |
|
Joshua Atkinson, aka “Swaggs” |
26 |
Ellenville |
10 years |
Life |
|
Luis Santiago, aka “Banks” |
35 |
Ellenville |
10 years |
Life |
|
Frankie Maldonado Jr. |
36 |
Ellenville |
5 years |
40 years |
|
Justin Torres |
35 |
Ellenville |
5 years |
40 years |
|
Erkan Denix, aka “E” aka “Ed” |
38 |
Ellenville |
5 years |
40 years |
|
Daryl Livingston, aka “Whiz” |
35 |
Huguenot, New York |
None |
20 years |
Additionally, Deniz is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Atkinson is charged with distribution of cocaine and fentanyl, and Santiago is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
This case is being investigated by HIS; the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT (the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement and Narcotics Team), an inter-agency taskforce targeting drug dealers and gang members in Ulster County; the New York State Police; the Village of Ellenville Police Department; and the White Plains Police Department, with assistance from the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Ashlyn Miranda are prosecuting this case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.