DRUG TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN EIGHT ARRESTS

NEW CITY, N.Y. – Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced the completion of a six-month long investigation by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force into crack cocaine sales in the Village of Nyack, Village of Spring Valley, and Town of Haverstraw.

Maurice “Rich” Jones, 30, of Nyack; Gregory “Braille” Diaz, 53, of Nyack; Tyrone “Black” Stewart, 34, of Nyack; Frantz “E” Beauvais, 38, of Nyack; Steve “Boogs” Barthole, 39, of Spring Valley; Tory “Cory” Means, 40, of Spring Valley; Larnell “Flea” Fortere, 34, of Valley Cottage; and Kim Vasquez, 45, of New York, New York, have been indicted, arrested, and arraigned for the charges of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

Stewart, Beauvais, Barthole, Means, Fortere, and Vasquez, were arraigned before the Honorable Kevin F. Russo. Jones and Diaz were arraigned before the Honorable Djinsad Desir.

“This investigation shows the continuing commitment of our Task Force in protecting our community,” said District Attorney Walsh. “The success of these eight arrests is a testament to their hard work.”

The Task Force is comprised of Rockland County District Attorney’s Office investigators and officers from the Clarkstown, Orangetown, Stony Point, Village of Spring Valley, and the Town of Haverstraw Police Departments who work closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to combat drug distribution and related violence in each of Rockland County’s towns and villages.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney John Longo and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Reilly.

*It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and that a defendant should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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