Press Release - People v Chad Richards

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2012

RE: PRESS RELEASE – CHAD RICHARDS

Chad Richards(DOB: 2/11/78),  last known address, Kingston, New York, was convicted yesterday by an Ulster County Court jury of all counts in an indictment charging two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree—all Class B felonies. The convictions followed a three day trial in Ulster County Court presided over by the Hon. Thomas A. Breslin. The defendant was remanded after the unanimous verdict, and Judge Breslin has scheduled defendant’s sentencing for January 23, 2013.

In November of 2011, the defendant was a target of Operation Clean Sweep for suspected illegal narcotic transactions.  On November 8th and November 9th of last year, the defendant sold cocaine to a Confidential Informant who was working with Undercover Agents and Detectives of the Kingston City Police Special Narcotics Unit, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), and the Urgent Task Force of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department.  

Defendant Richards has an extensive criminal history, dating back to 1996; including, but not limited to, three prior, and separate, felonious drug convictions – of those convictions included a conviction for a Class A  felony in 2001 where defendant was sentenced to  6 years State Prison to Life. Defendant’s convictions include numerous misdemeanor convictions and a felony Criminal Possession of a Weapon charge in 2000, where defendant served two years State Prison.

Richards is the final prosecution of the Operation Clean Sweep cases.  In all, 80 felony indictments were handed down regarding narcotic sales in the City of Kingston dating from August to December of 2011.  Of the 80 indictments one case was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, one case resulted in an acquittal and, with Richards conviction, the remaining 78 indictments resulted in felony convictions.

There have been a wide range of sentences handed down as a result of these convictions.  The sentences vary dramatically due to the fact that some of the individuals had no prior criminal history nor gang affiliation.  Those individuals received lenient sentences.  Conversely, many of the defendants had prior felony convictions and/or gang affiliations and those defendants received much more severe sentences.

“I feel that Operation Clean Sweep was a home run for all of Ulster County.  It shows what can be accomplished when agencies work together in a combined effort to address problems in the community.  Continuing to function as a team will make Ulster County a safer place to live” quoted Ulster County Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum.

“The New York State Police sees Operation Clean Sweep as a great team effort that made a real difference to residents living in and around the City of Kingston. Utilizing the resources of multiple law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office this operation resulted in a significant reduction in drug and gang related criminal activity in Ulster County”, quoted New York State Police Major Wayne Olson.

“I believe the citizens of Ulster County are safer today as a direct result of the efforts of the law enforcement community who spent countless hours on this investigation.  In my judgment OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP was the most successful drug task force investigation in the history of Ulster County.  My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of the men and women who made this happen”, quoted District Attorney Holley Carnright.

Press Release - People v Moody Sentencing

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 29, 2012

RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V CLAUDE MOODY SENTENCING

Claude Moody, age 53 of Ellenville, New York, was sentenced to 1-3 years in State Prison on November 28, 2012 on his conviction to the crime of Manslaughter in the second degree.  On October 4, 2011 Moody was operating his Toyota SUV on Route 44/55 in Ulster County with his wife, age 55, and step-daughter as passengers.  Moody drove the vehicle into a stationary backhoe.  His wife was killed in the collision.  His step-daughter, the backseat passenger, was severely injured.

At the time of the operation of the vehicle Moody’s BAC exceeded the legal limit and he had therapeutic levels of Ambien, a sleeping medication, in his system.  “This is a terribly tragic case”,  quoted District Attorney Holley Carnright. “I am sure the sentence we recommended is not as harsh a punishment as the pain that this defendant will carry for the rest of his life.  The case is a textbook example of how your life can be forever changed by driving in an intoxicated condition.”

Press Release - Camille Bishop Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 27, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V CAMILLE BISHOP

Camille Bishop, 40, of Saugerties, pled guilty last week in Ulster County Court to Attempted Workers Compensation Fraudulent Practices.

Ms. Bishop, a police officer with the Town of New Paltz, had joined the force in late 2004.  In her application for employment, she denied any prior back injury.  However, within one year of joining the force, Ms. Bishop went out on medical leave due to an alleged back injury she suffered while moving a tree which had fallen in a roadway.  For most of the next four years, Ms. Bishop remained on paid medical leave claiming disability from this back injury.  In 2009, Ulster County workers’ compensation insurance plan officials discovered that Ms. Bishop had suffered a back injury in a 2001 motor vehicle accident, which had required treatment for over a year and a half following the accident.  Bishop had not disclosed this injury in her New Paltz Police Department application. When questioned during the worker’s compensation review, Ms. Bishop denied any recollection of this 2001 back injury.   

As a result of her conviction, Ms. Bishop has had to resign from her position with the Town of New Paltz Police and will have to repay a significant portion of her salary back to the Town.

Workers' Compensation Board Chairman Robert E. Beloten said: “The Workers' Compensation Board works aggressively to protect the integrity of the system from abuse.  In this case, our Fraud Inspector General worked with the New Paltz Police Department and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office to identify and prosecute an individual who made a fraudulent claim.  We will continue our efforts with law enforcement partners to protect the system for those who need it.”  District Attorney Holley Carnright indicated that this prosecution furthers his goal of ending abuse of our government-provided system of benefits, especially by a public official, and thanked the investigative staff of the Workers’ Compensation Board for their invaluable assistance.

Sentencing of Ms. Bishop has been scheduled for February 5, 2013 in Ulster County Court.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joshua Povill.

Press Release - Tips for buying gift cards

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 27, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – TIPS FOR BUYING GIFT CARDS

Shopping for gifts can be a real dilemma. Gift cards may be the answer, as recipients can get exactly what they want from a retailer or restaurant. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers these tips when shopping for gift cards:

-        Buy from sources you know and trust;

-        Read the fine print before you buy. Is there a fee to buy the card? If you don’t like the terms and conditions, buy elsewhere;

-        See whether any fees will be deducted from the card after you purchase it;

-        Inspect the card before you buy it. Has it been tampered with in any way?;

-        Give the recipient your original receipt so they can verify the card’s purchase in case it is lost or stolen;

-        Consider the financial condition of the retailer or restaurant (if the business closes a store near the recipient, it may be hard to find another location where the card can be used).

The Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - People v Streb Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V STREB

John Streb, the third co-conspirator in the April 10, 2012 Sawyer Bank robbery pled guilty in Ulster County Court today.  In his allocution before Judge Donald A. Williams Streb admitted planning and executing the robbery with his accomplices Ryan Novick and Amanda Muhs.  Novick went to trial and was convicted by a jury last week.  Muhs had previously pled guilty.

Streb admitted that he entered the bank while Novick acted as the getaway driver.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 5, 2013.  He is facing a maximum of seven years in State Prison. Streb’s prior criminal history includes four felonies, Robbery in the third degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fourth degree, Attempted Grand Larceny in the third degree and Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, all of which were committed in Monroe County. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh.