Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); James R. Farrell, the Sullivan County District Attorney; George Beach, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”); Michael A. Schiff, the Sullivan County Sheriff; Scott Kinne, the Chief of the Village of Liberty Police; and Robert Mir, the Chief of the Village of Monticello Police Department,today announced the unsealing of three Indictments charging 11 members of three separate drug trafficking organizations based in Sullivan County, New York, with conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine. In a coordinated operation earlier today, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested seven defendants in Sullivan County. One of the charged defendants had already been arrested. Three defendants remain at large. Most of the defendants are expected to be presented in White Plains federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Every day, in communities around the country, we witness the devastating effects of the heroin trade. With today’s charges, made possible by the work of the FBI and our local law enforcement partners, we seek to help stem the flow of heroin and crack cocaine in Sullivan County.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. stated: “This case is part of our continuing effort in the Hudson Valley area to eradicate the tragic loss of life that is so closely associated with those involved in the drug trade. Heroin is killing more people in this country than ever before, and the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force is doing everything we can to stop these dealers from using this potentially lethal drug so they can make money.”
Sullivan County District Attorney James R. Farrell stated: “Today’s arrests mark our sustained and continued joint law enforcement effort - federal, state and local - to disrupt, dismantle, and destroy heroin trafficking organizations in Sullivan County. Our joint commitment, with our federal law enforcement partners, will continue apace so that those who engage in this deadly trade are held accountable and responsible in a court of law. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for his continued support of these efforts in Sullivan County, and all of the local police agencies in Sullivan County that have multiplied our impact in disrupting heroin trafficking by successfully partnering with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.”
NYSP Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “Thanks to the hard work and partnership of law enforcement at the state, federal, and local level, we have arrested and charged these 11 individuals, who are allegedly responsible for trafficking heroin and cocaine throughout Sullivan County. These narcotics are dangerous for users, and threaten the safety and security of our neighborhoods. We will continue to work with our partners to aggressively pursue the criminals who profit at the expense of our communities.”
Sullivan County Sheriff Michael A. Schiff stated: “This is another significant step forward in our initiative to curtail gangs and drug sales in Sullivan County. I would like to thank all of the agencies involved in these arrests. We are much more effective working together than separately.”
Village of Liberty Police Chief Scott Kinne stated: “Heroin is poisoning our communities and our citizens, especially our youth. Targeting and arresting the dealers who choose to distribute heroin and cocaine into our communities will make our communities a safer place to work and raise our children.”
Village of Monticello Police Chief Robert Mir stated: “The Monticello Police Department, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the FBI, the Sullivan County District Attorney and our other partners in law enforcement have been investigating these drug organizations for a long time and today’s arrests were a culmination of that investigation. These arrests stem from a series of ongoing joint investigations that have been progressing for years. The unsealing of three federal indictments, and arrests, underscore our commitment to combat the ongoing drug trade in our community, which has so severely affected the youth of Sullivan County. We hope that these arrests will go a long way toward curbing the opiate epidemic in Sullivan County and thereby improving the quality of life. At the conclusion of our past operations, we warned drug dealers. Today we issue another warning: We have other ongoing investigations, we know who you are, where to find you and we will get you. We will not stop.”
As alleged in the Indictments unsealed today in White Plains federal court[1]:
ROSHEEN HILLIARD, a/k/a “Nyce,” a/k/a “Ghost,” a/k/a “Cutt,” a/k/a “Daddy,” 37, JERMAINE DRAYTON, a/k/a “Jerm,” 40, JESENIA FIELDS, 29, and LEON FOUNTAIN, a/k/a “Tiger,” 35, are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin from at least 2013 through December 2016. This drug trafficking organization was led by HILLIARD and primarily operated in and around Sullivan County, New York.
AVERY AUBAIN, a/k/a “Dog,” 23, KATRINA BRIDGES, a/k/a “Trina,” 36, PAUL HERSHEWSKY, a/k/a “Hersh,” 38, TYRELL IVORY, a/k/a “Rell,” 23, JESSE KREBS, 27, and WILLIAM SOMERS, a/k/a “Billy,” 43, are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin from at least 2013 through May 2016. AUBAIN and his alleged coconspirators distributed heroin in and around the Village of Liberty, New York, and other locations in Sullivan County, New York.
TERRY COVINGTON, 37, is charged in an indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine in and around Sullivan County, New York.
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Charts containing the names of the defendants who were charged today, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, are attached. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the New York State Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, the Village of Monticello Police Department, and the Village of Liberty Police Department. Mr. Bharara also thanked the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office for its ongoing assistance in the case.
These cases are being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Maurene Comey and Gillian Grossman are in charge of the prosecutions.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
CHARGE(S) | DEFENDANT(S) | MAXIMUM PENALTIES |
Narcotics conspiracy (Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.) | ROSHEEN HILLIARD, a/k/a “Nyce,” a/k/a “Ghost,” a/k/a “Cutt,” a/k/a “Daddy,” JERMAINE DRAYTON, a/k/a “Jerm,” JESENIA FIELDS, and LEON FOUNTAIN, a/k/a “Tiger” | Life in prison
Mandatory minimum: |
Narcotics conspiracy (Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.) | AVERY AUBAIN, a/k/a “Dog,” KATRINA BRIDGES, a/k/a “Trina,” PAUL HERSHEWSKY, a/k/a “Hersh,” TYRELL IVORY, a/k/a “Rell,” JESSE KREBS, and WILLIAM SOMERS, a/k/a “Billy”
| Life in prison
Mandatory minimum: |
Narcotics conspiracy (Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.) |
TERRY COVINGTON | 40 years in prison
Mandatory minimum: five years in prison |
[1]As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.