Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler and Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois announced on June 3, 2021, that 17 defendants have been charged with crimes pertaining to the trafficking of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and prescription medications throughout Orange County. The indictments are part of an enforcement action conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force (OCDTF), who were assisted by the Village of Monroe Police Department, the City of Middletown Police Department, and the City of Newburgh Police Department.

The enforcement action primarily used undercover police officers to purchase narcotics and prescription medications. Eleven of the defendants were arrested and charged with crimes including Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, for selling narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl to undercover police officers. All those defendants were released without bail being due to the recent bail reform statutes. One defendant was arrested and charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree for selling the prescription medication Adderall to an undercover police officer. That defendant was similarly released without bail being set, because of the new statutes.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and OCDTF are seeking the public’s assistance in locating five defendants, who are wanted on arrest warrants pertaining to charges of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Two defendants, Marlon Anderson and Rashon Williams, have arrest warrants issued out of County Court.
On April 10, 2021, a suspected fatal overdose occurred in the Village of Monroe. Responding police officers from the Village of Monroe Police Department found two unconscious individuals, a male and a female, and administered Narcan. Subsequent investigation revealed that the narcotics that were consumed by the male and female had been purchased in the City of Newburgh.

Rashon Williams, 26, of Newburgh, is wanted on arrest warrants charging him with three counts of Criminal Sale of Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Felony complaints, filed in the City of Newburgh Court allege that on April 9, 2021, Williams sold narcotics to the Village of Monroe man that had the Narcan administered to him, and that he shared those narcotics with the woman who subsequently died. Williams is also charged in a felony complaint with a subsequent sale of cocaine and fentanyl on April 16, 2021. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Williams out of County Court in connection with another sale of fentanyl to an OCDTF undercover on April 19, 2021. The District Attorney’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in the apprehension of Rashon Williams, whose street-name is “Marvelous.” Anyone having information should contact local law enforcement.

Those charged with cocaine possession include the following Newburgh residents: Duane Spearman, 53; Shatiro Lawrence, 33; Tameka Hannah, 44; Tyler Wilson, 23.

Those charged with heroin possession include, Louis Towles, 20.

Those charged with Fentanly possession include the following Newburgh residents: Robert Gayle, 44; Terrance Norman, 50 and Eric Hall, 50.

“The death of this young woman is a stark reminder that we must respond to the spike in fatal overdoses in Orange County, and throughout New York State,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Although bail may now be set in connection with any crime that results in a death, judges should have the ability to use their discretion in setting bail on those who sell narcotics, particularly potentially lethal ones such as fentanyl and heroin. The increase in fatal overdoses shows just how necessary these enforcement actions are. I commend the law enforcement agencies that participated in this enforcement action and I am confident that law enforcement, local governments, treatment providers, and concerned Orange County residents will ultimately prevail in combating the narcotics epidemic that is killing far too many in our communities.”