Leader of Hudson Valley Cocaine Ring Jailed

The director of a Hudson Valley cocaine ring is heading to prison for leading an organization that made over $75,000 in drug sales over the past year.

In Orange County Court, 56-year-old Anthony J. Spagnola of Cuddebackville was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years post release supervision.

The sentencing stems from Spagnola’s guilty plea of operating as a major trafficker in early Oct.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Spagnola admitted he was the director of a controlled substance organization that sold cocaine throughout Orange County and surrounding areas.

In court, Spagnola said he had at least four people who worked for him selling cocaine in the local area.

The guilty plea followed a seven-month investigation into drug sales in Orange County called “Operation Chopper.” On April 28, 2016, The New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, in conjunction with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, made over 20 arrests and seized two kilos of cocaine.

In addition to exposing the drug ring, the “Operation Chopper” investigation also revealed crimes committed by “outlaw motorcycle clubs,” officials say.

“Hopefully the decade that this defendant will serve in state prison will deter others who are tempted to realize fast money by selling narcotics,” Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler stated.  “Narcotics are destroying the fabric of our society and killing our residents and must be fought at every level.”