Rockland County, NY – Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II has announced the arrest of five individuals following a five-month investigation into narcotics sales in Spring Valley, Haverstraw, and Ramapo. The Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force, working in collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, led the investigation, which resulted in the indictment of Jose Pena (Garnerville), Mario Amaya (Spring Valley), Daquan Leary (Suffern), Eric Hayden (Pomona), and Jonathan Albizures (Spring Valley).
The defendants are charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree for allegedly selling crack cocaine and powder cocaine in Rockland County.
Walsh said the Rockland County Drug Task Force for its commitment to removing narcotics from local communities.
The arrest and indictments of these alleged drug dealers is a critical step in our ongoing fight to protect our residents and keep the community safe,” said Walsh. “I commend the professionalism and thorough investigation conducted by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force.”
The Rockland County Drug Task Force is dedicated to combating open-air and street-level narcotics distribution. The team is composed of prosecutors, investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, and police officers from Clarkstown PD, Orangetown PD, and the Town of Haverstraw Police Department, working in close cooperation with federal and state law enforcement agencies.
District Attorney Walsh also emphasized that help is available for individuals struggling with substance abuse.
“To anyone struggling with addiction, help is available. Any individual dealing with substance abuse can walk into any Rockland County police station and ask for the ‘Hope Not Handcuffs’ program,” he said. “No questions will be asked, and a call will be made to an ‘angel’ volunteer from the Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley team who will actively seek out a treatment plan.”
Senior Assistant District Attorney John Longo and Assistant District Attorney Korrine Torres are prosecuting the case.
Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.