Ellenville man wanted on felony conspiracy charge in connection with Orange County cocaine ring

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — An Ellenville man is wanted on a felony conspiracy charge in connection with a cocaine trafficking ring in Orange County involving 15 individuals, including the director of an anti-violence program in the Bronx, authorities said.

Orange County authorities said Tuesday, Aug. 1, that Victor Pacheco, 42, of Ellenville, along with Rebecca Concepcion, 32, of Port Jervis, and Michael Jackson, 35, are wanted on felony conspiracy charges with warrants out for their arrest.

Police said are seeking the public’s help in locating Pacheco, Concepcion and Jackson. Anyone with information concerning their whereabouts should contact Middletown City Police, they added.

Owing to his prior felon status, Pacheco could face anywhere from 12 1/2 years to 25 years in state prison for his involvement in the drug ring, authorities said.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta, City of Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw, and City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, announced the charges at a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Authorities said the charges come after a two-year narcotics investigation by the Middletown Police Department into cocaine trafficking by Angelica Rodriguez that included court-approved eavesdropping.

A news release said seven search warrants resulted in the seizure of 1,516 grams of crack cocaine having a street value of approximately $50,000, over $167,000 in U.S. currency and three illegal handguns.

The investigation was conducted by the City of Middletown Police Department, the Orange County Drug Taskforce, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the City of Port Jervis Police Department.

The arrests included Michael Rodriguez, 48, of Yonkers, who serves as director of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence, an anti-violence program that receives government money and works to promote safer streets, the news release said. Authorities charged Rodriguez with criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy, all felonies.

Authorities said Rodriguez supplied cocaine to narcotics dealers in Middletown and Port Jervis while possessing two illegal handguns.

Police said a search warrant executed at Rodriguez’s Yonkers residence on Wednesday, July 26, resulted in the seizure of over 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, $165,509 in U.S. currency, a money counter, an unlicensed Ruger .380 caliber pistol, an unlicensed Bond Arms .357 caliber handgun, a vacuum sealer, digital scales and jewelry estimated to have a value of $50,000.

Authorities said Michael Rodriguez, regularly supplied cocaine to Angelica Rodriguez, who would sell it in Middletown, and Taino Lopez, 25, of Middletown, who’d sell it in and around Port Jervis. Lopez is charged with conspiracy, a felony.

Michael Rodriguez is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail pending his appearance in Orange County Court.

Angelica Rodriguez, aka “Jelly”, 39, of Otisville, who police do not believe to be related to Michael Rodriguez, was arrested on July 27 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a conspiracy, both felonies. Angelica Rodriguez is being held in the Orange County Jail without bail pending her appearance in Orange County Court.

Police said they expect to file additional charges against her.

Police said 36 grams of cocaine were found by police during a July 14 traffic stop in a vehicle Angelica Rodriguez had been driving.

Authorities said a search warrant executed at a storage unit she was renting resulted in the seizure of a loaded Smith and Wesson .380 caliber pistol that had been previously reported stolen, cutting agents and a scale commonly used in the procession of cocaine.

Police also released the names and charges of the other individuals involved in the ring.

Charged with felony conspiracy were Amy Austin, 44, of Port Jervis, Janiyah Conklin, 20, of Middletown, Ruthann Dailey, 43, of Middletown, Nathan Gannon, 54, of the town of Wallkill, John Meyer, 42, of Glen Spey, Angel Rodriguez, 42, of Middletown, Felix Rodrigeuz, 31, of Middletown, Jennifer Williams, 49, of Port Jervis, and Minnie Williams, 31, of Middletown. Each of those individuals was released with appearance tickets.

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