6 Orange County Residents Charged After Monthslong Drug Investigation

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — Officials have announce a major disruption to the illegal drug trade in the Hudson Valley.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler, Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden and Deerpark Police Chief Richard Sztyndor announced the arrests of 38-year-old Joshua Conklin, 54-year-old Herbert Kanoff, 38-year-old Christina Bohm, 55-year-old Jody Etchie, 35-year-old Jeffrey Libby, and 52-year-old Jerry McBee, after a monthslong investigation into narcotics trafficking throughout the western region of Orange County.

"Drug dealers need to understand that their criminal business is not welcome in Orange County," DA Hoovler said. "Law enforcement will not rest in the pursuit of those who peddle in poison. It is through collaboration and cooperation amongst police agencies and my Office that these long-term investigations can disrupt the narcotics networks in our communities. And yet again we find firearms allegedly illegally possessed by drug dealers as tools of their trade. Our commitment to recovering these dangerous weapons before they can be used against others is resolute. I commend the City of Port Jervis Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners for their hard work in this case."

The Port Jervis Police Department conducted the investigation in collaboration with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, the Town of Deerpark Police Department, the Orange County Drug Task Force, the City of Middletown Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the Pike County (PA) District Attorney's Office and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center.

"These investigations spanned multiple jurisdictions and resulted in the service of four court authorized search warrants. I wish to again underscore the importance of the excellent collaborative work being done by law enforcement agencies in Orange Countyto dismantle these drug trafficking networks," Port Jervis Police Chief Worden said. "There is a well-known nexus between drug trafficking, illegally possessed firearms, and violence. People who choose to peddle deadly, highly addictive drugsin the City of Port Jervis will be identified and investigated. We will never rest in our pursuit of drug traffickers."

The investigation resulted in the execution of four search warrants at locations in the City of Port Jervis and the Town of Deerpark. Throughout the course of the investigation, police seized powder cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, two illegally possessed handguns (one which was loaded), five digital scales, a quantity of hallucinogenic mushrooms, cutting agent, and narcotic packaging materials.

"The sale of illegal narcotics affects every neighborhood, and the Town of Deerpark is no exception," Town of Deerpark Police Chief Sztyndor said. "Working together with our partners we have been able to investigate these people no matter where theyare. We will continue our pursuit of justice for the damage they cause throughout Orange County."

Conklin was charged with two counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Kanoff was charged with felony first-degree criminal nuisance, and is also being held as a fugitive of justice from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania related to drug trafficking charges.

Bohm was charged with two counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor second-degree use of drug paraphernalia.

Etchie was charged with two counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Libby was charged with felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

McBee was charged with felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.