Rockland Highway Foreman Charged with Dealing Drugs

NYACK, NY — A veteran foreman at the Rockland County Highway Department is accused of involvement with a Rockland drug ring, not only trafficking cocaine while at work but also, on occasion, from a county vehicle, according to the Rockland County District Attorney.

Bernard Hughes III, of 4 Trachtenberg Court, West Nyack, New York was arrested Monday. He faces one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class “D” Felony.

Hughes, 56, is accused of trafficking powder and crack cocaine in several local towns and villages during work hours. On numerous occasions over the past 12 months, undercover members of the Rockland County Drug Task Force observed Hughes using a county vehicle to transport and sell several grams of cocaine, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe said in his announcement of the Aug. 29 arrest.

The arrest stems from an August 9, 2016 federal indictment charging 11 people with trafficking in cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Rockland County. It is alleged that Hughes was a low-level dealer in a drug trafficking organization led by Jemel Goode of Congers, New York.

According to the charges, Hughes conspired with a mid-level drug dealer to transport and sell cocaine in Rockland County. Other amounts of cocaine were purchased by defendant for his own personal use.

Said Zugibe, “In the course of that federal investigation, it was discovered that Hughes was involved with Goode’s cocaine network.”

SEE: 11 Face Federal Prosecution in Rockland for Cocaine Trafficking

Hughes was arraigned in the Village of West Haverstraw Justice Court by the Honorable Kevin Russo. He was released on his own recognizance pending a future court date. He faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted.

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