Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Press Release - Mystery Shopper Scam




FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: MARCH 27, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – MYSTERY SHOPPER SCAM



People across the country are receiving letters in the mail – accompanied by large checks – inviting them to earn extra money as mystery shoppers.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, these letters instruct you to deposit the check, wire a portion of the money using Western Union or Money Gram, keep a portion as pay and use a portion of that to purchase merchandise. Then you’re told to contact the person named in the letter for further instructions.

The check is fraudulent. You are being scammed. The bank will hold you responsible for the total amount you withdraw from your account.

The Bureau advises never wire money to an unknown recipient and never cash an unsolicited check from an unknown sender.  The Bureau can be reached at 340-3260.


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Press Release URGENT Arrests



TO: MEDIA
FROM: DA HOLLEY CARNRIGHT & ULSTER CO. SHERIFF PAUL VANBLARCUM
DATE: MARCH 20, 2018
RE: URGENT ARRESTS

URGENT is a countywide task force commissioned to combat gang violence and drug trafficking in Ulster County.  It is headed by an executive committee of Ulster County Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum, Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright and Town of Lloyd Police Chief Daniel Waage, and operates under the command of Ulster County District Attorney Chief of Investigations, William Weishaupt, Commanding Officer.

Generally, given the sensitive nature of the undercover police investigations conducted by the task force, we do not publicize the work that the task force does in protecting our citizens.  However, from time to time, we feel it is important for the public to be kept abreast of this critically important work.

Over the past three weeks members of URGENT have concluded a multi-month series of investigations into the sale, possession and trafficking of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, diverted pharmaceuticals and marijuana throughout Ulster County. As a result, the following subjects have been arrested:

Alyssa J. Long, 22, of Rosendale was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts).     
                                                 






Jordan A. King, 20, of Rosendale was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled
Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts).  
                                                 

William P. Braden III, 35, of Saugerties was charged with the class D Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (3 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (3 counts).

                                                 
Melissa R. Neglia, 25, of Saugerties was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (2 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (2 counts).

Kayla S. Holderman, 26, of Hurley was charged with the class C Felony of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 4th Degree (2 counts) and the class D Felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th Degree (2 counts). 



Brian J. Lombardo Jr., 25, of Saugerties was charged with the class D Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (2 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (2 counts).

      Nicole L. Kidd, 27, of Pine Bush was charged with the class C Felony of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 4th Degree (2 counts) and the class D Felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th Degree (2 counts). 

      Colin D. Krom, 32, of Marlboro was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count). 
                                              



   Kristi R. Noonan, 26, of Ulster was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count).
                                                 

  Ryan E. Rios, 35, of Ulster was charged with the class E Felony of Criminal Possession of a Firearm and the class A Misdemeanor of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th Degree.  In addition to his charges, the defendant potentially faces violations with the U.S. Department of Probation.
                                                 


Matthew A. Felton Jr., 37, of Kingston was arrested after members of URGENT executed a search warrant on his residence.  One half ounce of cocaine, 12.4 grams of crack cocaine, 4.4 grams of heroin, one half pound of marihuana, $8,047.00 U.S. currency, scales and drug packaging material were located in the defendant’s residence.  He was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (5 counts), the class E Felonies of Tampering with Physical Evidence (1 count), Criminal Possession of Marihuana in the 3rd Degree (1 count) and the class A Misdemeanor of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree.

Salvador Giron, 25, of Shawangunk was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (2 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (2 counts). 

    Michael Rodriguez, 34, of Plattekill was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (2 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (2 counts).  

    Corey A. Steele, 31, of Ellenville was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count). 


 

Philip Hemley, 67, of Woodstock was arrested after members of URGENT executed a search warrant on his residence.  21.6 pounds of marihuana, 3 ounces of psilocybin (psychedelic) mushrooms, 2.5 ounces of hashish, $15,676 U.S. currency, scales and drug packaging material were located in his residence.  He was charged with the A-II Felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree, the C Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 4th Degree and Criminal Possession of Marihuana in the 1st Degree. 


  Richard W. Torres, 26, of Kingston was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (1 count).

 Skylar A. Eichert, 28, of Saugerties was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (4 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (4 counts).

 Bo Hirsch, 18, of Woodstock was charged with the A-II Felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree, the C Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 4th Degree and Criminal Possession of Marihuana in the 1st Degree.  
 Cesar J. Infante, 33, of Saugerties was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts).
   Michael J. Cavallaro, 35, of Saugerties was charged with the class B Felonies of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts) and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (3 counts).  In addition to his charges, the defendant potentially faces violations with the New York State Department of Corrections Division of Parole.                                        


 Kenneth A. Montgomery,  30, of Henry Street in the City of Kingston was indicted for Criminal Sale and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree by an Ulster County Grand Jury. 
                                                 
Christopher J. Lay, 36, of Chichester, New York was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree and Loitering in the 1st Degree.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Shayna Longendyke, 33, of Clinton Avenue in Kingston, was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree.  



Jurgen Ladstetter, 47, of Cedar Street, Kingston, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, Criminal Possession of Weapon in the 3rd Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th Degree.  



  

Rodney W. Harding, 22, of Rt. 209 in Accord, New York, was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree.    
Ronald W. Warnick, 50, of John Street, Kingston, was charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Substance in the 7th Degree, and Criminally Using drug paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree. 
                                                 
Caryn Wilde, 43, of East St. James Street, Kingston, was charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree.                                                      

Edwin Pomales, 69, of State Route 32 in the Town of Ulster was charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of Marijuana and Criminal Possession of a Weapon,  as a result of being found in possession of a quarter kilogram of cocaine, one ounce of concentrated cannabis, two and a half ounces of marijuana, scales, drug packaging material, shotguns, rifles and $15,390.00 cash. 
In the months prior to the conclusion of the above referenced investigations, URGENT has arrested over 130 persons for charges ranging from drug possession and trafficking to weapons possessions. We have seized 28 illegal weapons, $123,645.00 in drug money, 20,000 decks of heroin, 275 decks of pure fentanyl, and 843 grams of cocaine et alia.

The following agencies have members assigned to URGENT:  Ulster County Sheriff's Office, Ulster County District Attorney's Office, Town of Woodstock Police, Town of Lloyd Police, Town of Shandaken Police, Ulster County Probation, Town of Plattekill Police, Town of Marlborough Police, Town of New Paltz Police, Village of Ellenville Police, Town of Saugerties Police, City of Kingston Police, the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations and  Ulster County DA Chief of Investigations, William Weishaupt, as Commanding Officer.