11 Face Federal Prosecution in Rockland for Cocaine Trafficking

Federal officials announced indictments against 11 people taken into custody Tuesday and charged with drug trafficking in Rockland.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said that another five people have been indicted by state officials.

“As alleged, the eleven men charged today were part of a narcotics distribution network that peddled large quantities of powder and crack cocaine all around Rockland County," Bharara said in the announcement. "The residents of our communities are entitled to live and work free from the ills of narcotics trafficking. Our joint effort with the FBI, Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Rockland County Drug Task Force and Haverstraw Police Department brings us closer to that goal.”

The charges are the result of hundreds of hours of investigation and surveillance over a year-long period, an effort called "Operation Goode" after two brothers whom officials alleged were the leaders of the drug ring.

“The defendants are accused of being part of a sweeping operation dealing in drugs all across Rockland County," Rockland County Drug Task Force Director Chris Goldrick said.

The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Rockland County Drug Task Force, and the Town of Haverstraw Police Department.

Indicted were:

• JEMEL GOODE, a/k/a “J Rock”, 34, Congers, New York
• BENANCIO CABA, a/k/a “Bennie Caba”, 27, Haverstraw, New York
• LASEAN GOODE, a/k/a “Bones”, 31, W. Haverstraw, New York
• NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, SR., 44, Haverstraw, New York
• NATHANIEL SAUNDERS, JR., a/k/a “Quan,”, 22, Haverstraw, New York
• DUANE TAYLOR, a/k/a “Daquan Jenkins,” a/k/a “Antwan Scott”, 36, Haverstraw, New York
• SHARRAHN WALTON, 19, Haverstraw, New York
• ALEXANDER SCUDDER, 35, Nyack, New York
• EDWIN HILARIO, 30, Haverstraw, New York
• QUELVIN LOPEZ, 32, Haverstraw, New York
• ANEUDI JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Fat Bastard”, 34, W. Haverstraw, New York