The central figure in an Orange County heroin ring plead guilty.

On Monday in Orange County Court, Earl O. Melvin, A/K/A “Bugs”, of Newburgh plead guilty to the felony charge of operating as a major trafficker.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Melvin admitted that he was the director of a drug trafficking organization that sold heroin in the City of Newburgh and other parts of Orange County.

In June, Melvin and 14 others were arrested for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation. The 10-month investigation, called “Operation Punch-Out,” included the use of wiretaps and other electronic surveillance.

In August 2015, members of the New York State Police CNET Hudson Valley, along with the City of Newburgh Police Department, began to receive information regarding large quantities of heroin being distributed in the City of Newburgh.

The narcotics were being sold to users from all over Orange County, as well as surrounding counties, officials say.

During their investigation police identified Melvin as one of the main heroin distributors.

In court, prosecutors argued that Melvin not only directed the drug selling organization, but also stored narcotics, sold narcotics, directed others to sell narcotics

In addition to the arrests in June, law enforcement seized 1,000 bags of heroin, 45 grams of loose heroin, 15 grams of cocaine, two handguns and $9,000 in cash.

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