Drug Investigation Results in Charges for Nanuet Resident

Criminal charges against 19 alleged drug peddlers were announced today following a 3-month undercover crackdown on local narcotics trafficking.

The defendants—who range in age from 21 to 48—are charged selling with prescription drugs, including oxycodone and Xanax, crack and powdered cocaine and heroin to undercover police officers on dozens of separate occasions since June. The open-air drug transactions have led to more than 85 counts of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

One of those facing four felony charges is Andy Negri, of 605 Maplewood Gardens, Nanuet.

Police allege he was selling crack cocaine.

As part of the sweep, the Rockland County Drug Task Force focused on several locations, including bustling downtowns.

“These arrests are just the latest results of a coordinated law enforcement and prosecutoriaeffort to improve the quality of life for residents by reducing drug-related violence and other crime,” said District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. “The defendants are charged with selling an assortment of addictive and deadly drugs - including heroin and oxycodone - in and around some of Rockland County’s busiest neighborhoods.”

In addition to the arrests, officers executed court-authorized search warrants and recovered varying amounts of narcotics, drug paraphernalia and firearms at the following locations: Nyack Motor Lodge, 110 N. Route 303, West Nyack; 10 Windmill Lane, New City; 150 Lakeview Village, Spring Valley; 37 Woodland Drive, Suffern, 11 Gable Road, New City; 6 Tavarone Street, Garnerville.

Fifteen of the 19 defendants have prior criminal histories for weapons charges, drug sale and possession, criminal impersonation, assault, reckless endangerment, public lewdness, petit larceny and criminal mischief, police said.

Among those arrested in the crackdown was Sammy Foda of 37 Woodland Drive, Suffern, NY. Investigators identified Foda as a manufacturer of methamphetamine after finding potentially explosive drug ingredients and other paraphernalia in a makeshift lab inside his home.

The 19 defendants are variously charged with numerous counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class “B” Felony and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class “B” Felony, each punishable by up to nine years in prison. (See addendum for details on the arrested defendants)

Drug Task Force Director Christopher Goldrick said, “This investigation has been a collaborative and coordinated response to open-air drug dealing complaints in our towns and villages. The DTF, along with local street crime units, detective bureaus and uniform patrol officers, will continue to target and dismantle illicit drug dealing that fuels illegal behavior.”

The Rockland County Drug Task Force recognizes its valuable partnership with various state and federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Squad (T.D.S.), the Federal Bureau of Investigation Drug/Gang Unit - White Plains, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Narcotics Unit and the New York State Police Troop F - Haverstraw, which continue to provide critical resources to Rockland County’s anti-drug initiatives, including intelligence and analytical mapping.