Man Arrested, Released In Sting Last Week, Caught Dealing Again: Cops

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Police say that a man nabbed in a major drug sting was back plying his trade again, just days later.

The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force has recently been working on several investigations into narcotic and dangerous drug dealers operating on Main Street in the City of Poughkeepsie or in municipal parking lots off of Main Street.

Last Thursday, Drug Task Force Agents and members of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit, with the assistance of the City of Poughkeepsie Police and New York State Police, executed a warrant resulting in the arrest of Ronald L. Davis, Bernard Diggs, and Leonardo De La Cruz, as well as the seizure of large quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl.

25-year-old De La Cruz was charged last week with felony third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and was ordered to be released.

Following the raids and arrests conducted by the Drug Task Force last week, agents once again started to receive information about a person selling narcotics behind the buildings located between 453 Main Street and 458 Main Street.

SEE ALSO: Drug Task Force Nabs 3 Suspected Dealers In Early Morning Raids

Drug Task Force agents once again identified the drug dealer as De La Cruz.

On Monday, Drug Task Force agents found De La Cruz in the same area and took him into custody where he was found to be in possession of a quantity of fentanyl packaged for sale as well as crack cocaine.

The DA's Office noted that both fentanyl and cocaine are the sources of most overdoses in Dutchess County, including the recent overdoses on Main Street that took place last week.

De La Cruz was taken to the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office where he was charged with felony third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and felony fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was later arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to Dutchess County Jail on $75,000 cash bail, $150,000 secured bond, or $250,000 partially secured bond.

The Drug Task Force says it is working diligently and quickly to identify those persons responsible for selling narcotics and dangerous drugs to community members. The public is asked to keep reporting dealers in the Dutchess County area to the Drug Task Force.

If anyone has information about this case or about any other individuals selling drugs in Dutchess County, they are urged to contact the Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or to send an email to this address.