10 People Charged With 153 Crimes for Roles in Drug Trafficking Operation in Ulster and Orange Counties
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the takedown of a drug trafficking ring that distributed cocaine across the Hudson Valley. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) found that members of the drug trafficking operation coordinated meetings to distribute and resell cocaine throughout Ulster and Orange counties. The investigation recovered more than one kilogram of cocaine with an approximate street value of $30,000 and over $12,500 cash in proceeds from illicit narcotics sales. 10 individuals were arrested and nine were arraigned in Ulster County Court before Judge Bryan E. Rounds for their roles in the drug trafficking operation.
“Drug trafficking rings flood our streets with dangerous narcotics and put our communities in serious danger,” said Attorney General James. “This takedown marks another big step forward in our efforts to dismantle the web of trafficking rings that threaten New Yorkers’ safety. I thank my partners in law enforcement for their continued efforts to protect our communities.”
The investigation began in November 2024 and included hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance, court-authorized wiretapping of cellphones, and review of phone records and law enforcement databases. Electronic surveillance revealed the defendants and their co-conspirators frequently used coded and cryptic terminology in text messages and phone calls in an attempt to disguise their illicit activities, such as referring to cocaine using various food terms like “pizza,” “pies,” and “water.”
The indictment alleges two schemes, both centered around Michael Felicello, who operated an illegal cocaine distribution network in and around Ulster and Orange counties. The first scheme charges Felicello, along with Jorge Lee, Lawrence Falcetta, Michael Brown, Jose Garcia, and Ernesto Reyes Rodriguez, Jr. The second scheme charges Felicello, along with Eric Oremus, John Dangelo, Joshua Mintz, and Deborah Foster.
The first scheme alleges that Felicello sourced his cocaine from Jorge Lee. On at least one occasion, Felicello met Lee at RMC Trucking in Orange County, where Felicello works, to source the cocaine. Felicello also sourced cocaine from Lawrence Falcetta at Falcetta’s residence in Ulster County, and from Michael Brown at various locations in and around Newburgh, Orange County. Brown would often meet with Felicello near the deli where he worked as a cook. Brown sourced the cocaine he sold to Felicello from Jose Garcia, who transported the cocaine to Brown from Garcia’s residence in Orange County. Falcetta also sourced cocaine from Jorge Lee, often meeting at Falcetta’s Ulster County residence. The scheme further alleges that Ernesto Reyes Rodriguez, Jr. also sold cocaine on behalf of Jorge Lee.
The second scheme alleges that after obtaining cocaine from his suppliers, Felicello would redistribute that cocaine to various customers, including Eric Oremus, John Dangelo, Joshua Mintz, and Deborah Foster, some of whom were redistributors. Felicello used the RMC Trucking parking lot to sell cocaine to customers.
On one occasion, on March 15, 2026, law enforcement seized half an ounce of cocaine from Garcia when he was traveling to meet with and supply Brown, who would supply the cocaine to Felicello. Within minutes of this seizure by law enforcement, Garcia returned to his residence to get more cocaine to fulfill the order made by Brown.
The 153-count indictment charges the 10 defendants with felony narcotics offenses, including various counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (a class A-I felony), Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (a class A-II felony), additional counts of Criminal Sale and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (class B felonies), as well as Conspiracy to commit those crimes. Defendants convicted on the top count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Those charged in the indictment include:
- Michael Brown, 53, of Newburgh, Orange County;
- John J. Dangelo, II, 53, of Wallkill, Ulster County;
- Lawerence A. Falcetta, JR., 53, of Marlboro, Ulster County;
- Michael P. Felicello, 51, of Marlboro, Ulster County;
- Deborah A. Foster, 70, of Marlboro, Ulster County;
- Jose A. Garcia, 57, of Newburgh, Orange County;
- Jorge Lee, 48, of Marlboro, Ulster County;
- Joshua A. Mintz, 41, of Highland, Ulster County;
- Eric S. Oremus, 56, of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County; and
- Ernesto R. Rodriguez, JR., 25, of Marlboro, Ulster County.
This takedown was the result of an extensive joint-investigation led by OCTF in collaboration with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO), Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT), and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Attorney General James would like to thank the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police Troop F Violent Gangs and Narcotics Enforcement Team, the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Town of Marlborough Police Department, the Town of New Windsor Police Department, the Town of Newburgh Police Department, and the City of Newburgh Police Department for their assistance throughout the investigation.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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