Monsey Couple Found Guilty of Drug Trafficking

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Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced Wedesday that a jury found Monsey residents Aaron Parker and Patricia Mortel guilty of trafficking a large quantity of powdered cocaine into the community.

Parker, 30 was found guilty of:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class “A” Felony

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class "B" Felony

Mortel, 34, was found guilty of:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class "A" Felony.

“These arrests and convictions represent a clear demonstration of my office’s commitment to rid our county of illegal narcotics trafficking and to improve the quality of life of our local residents," Zugibe said in his announcement. "Drug dealers should be forewarned - Rockland County is not the place to import illegal narcotics or to sell them.”

The couple, who live at 220 Kearsing Parkway, were stopped by police at 1 a.m. Sept. 15, 2015 while traveling on the New York State Thruway in Clarkstown. The vehicle stop was based on a Rockland County Drug Task Force wiretap investigation.

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered nearly 300 grams of cocaine.

Parker and Mortel will be sentenced on September 20, 2016.