Hudson Valley Heroin Sales Investigation Leads to 15 Arrests

Less than a week after an FBI investigation led to nine arrests, a second raid in the Hudson Valley led to the arrest of 15 for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation.

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 36-year-old Earl Melvin, of Newburgh as one of the alleged main heroin distributors.

Tuesday, State Police along with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, City and Town of Newburgh Police, City of Middletown Police, Town of Woodbury Police, Town of New Windsor Police and the Westchester County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants and took 15 individuals into custody for their involvement in the operation.

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

Below is a list of the 15 arrests and their charges. Their mugshots can be seen above:

Earl Melvin, 36, Newburgh: criminal sale of a controlled substance 2nd degree

Angela Daniello, 27, Newburgh: Conspiracy 2nd degree

Keith J. Ford, 65, Newburgh: criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree, and conspiracy 2nd degree

Damien Garcia, 37, Newburgh: criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree, and conspiracy 2nd degree

Jamel A. Johnson, 20, Newburgh: criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd degree, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree

Lavar F. Ruffin,38, Newburgh: criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree, and conspiracy 2nd degree

William D. Johnson,39, Newburgh: conspiracy 2nd degree

Angel A. Rodriguez, Jr., 41, Bronx: conspiracy 2nd degree

Boice H. Wheeler, Jr., 60, Newburgh, conspiracy 2nd degree

Eban I. Carrion, 45, Middletown: conspiracy 2nd degree

Craig S. Caputo, 37, Beacon: criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree, and conspiracy 2nd degree

Raymond Rivera, 49, Newburgh: conspiracy 2nd degree

Jermaine Mays, 33, Newburgh: conspiracy 2nd degree

Christian Tejada, 32, Howard Beach: conspiracy 2nd degree

Whitney Lamb, 29, Homeless: criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd Degree (two counts)