Repeat Offender Middletown Drug Dealer From New Jersey Pleads Guilty

MIDDLETOWN, NY — A New Jersey man has admitted to coming to the Hudson Valley to peddle his drugs.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, 39-year-old Rahyim Woodson, of Orange, New Jersey, pled guilty in Orange County Court to third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, which is his second felony drug conviction. Woodson faces up to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of post-release supervision, when he is sentenced on December 3.

The charges against Woodson resulted from a long-term investigation into the possession and sale of narcotics in and around the City of Middletown.

"Long-term drug investigations uncover the significant traffickers who fuel the drug trade in our communities," Hoovler said. "These recidivist offenders pose the greatest risk of causing death and their operations must be dismantled by arrest, prosecution and incarceration. We will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies whose dedicated investigators represent the thin line between these criminals and a safe neighborhood. Drug dealers should be forewarned that Orange County will not tolerate their dangerous actions."

According to court documents, Woodson sold narcotics to undercover police officers in the City of Middletown six times during the summer of 2022. Testing of the narcotics at a forensic laboratory confirmed the presence of cocaine and/or fentanyl or heroin.

During plea proceedings, Woodson admitted to knowingly and unlawfully selling a narcotic drug.

Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Woodson.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs.