Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Cocaine and Fentanyl Trafficking Network Operating in the Hudson Valley

AG’s Investigation Seized More Than 10,500 Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl, Over Eight Kilograms of Cocaine, and Three Firearms, Including a Ghost Gun

Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrests and indictments of seven members of a narcotics trafficking network operating in Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Westchester counties. The 155-count indictment charges Shamique Delaine, Jonte Hatcher, Romell Hearn, Nicole Kane, Daquan Killian, and Dwan Scafe with conspiracy and trafficking. Damian Cunningham faces trafficking charges. The investigation seized over 10,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, valued at $75,000, over eight kilograms of cocaine worth $200,000, three firearms (one ghost gun), and $14,000 in cash.

“Counterfeit opioids with fentanyl are a grave threat to New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “Our investigation dismantled a drug network moving dangerous narcotics in the Hudson Valley. My office remains committed to tackling the opioid crisis, and I thank the New York State Police for their diligent work.”

The 12-month investigation was led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York State Police’s Special Investigations Unit – Hudson Valley (SIU-HV). It included controlled narcotics and firearm purchases, wiretapping, physical surveillance, and analysis of electronic evidence.

Defendants often used coded terms, referring to counterfeit oxycodone pills as “blues” and cocaine as “soft.” Nicole Kane purchased drugs from Daquan Killian, Romell Hearn, and Jonte Hatcher, distributing them from her home and local spots like Price Chopper in Poughkeepsie. Hearn collaborated with Dwan Scafe from a stash house in Poughkeepsie. In March 2024, Scafe sold cocaine to Cunningham, seized by police during a car stop.

In May, searches in Poughkeepsie yielded a firearm, a high-capacity magazine, and six kilograms of cocaine. In August, another search recovered a firearm and 450 grams of cocaine from Hatcher and Delaine.

Investigation Highlights Seized: Over 8 kilograms of cocaine ($200,000 value), more than 10,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills with fentanyl ($75,000 value), three illegal firearms (one ghost gun), drug paraphernalia, and $14,000 in cash. The indictment charges narcotics offenses, including Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First and Second Degrees (Class A felonies), with maximum sentences of 24 years. Hatcher, Kane, Hearn, and Scafe face f irearms charges. Hearn and Scafe are further charged with Operating as Major Traffickers, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

“Today’s arrests target networks bringing dangerous narcotics into our communities,” said State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “We will continue working with the Attorney General’s Office to shut down these operations and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Defendants Charged:

Damian Cunningham, 40, Mount Vernon, NY Shamique Delaine, 33, Poughkeepsie, NY Jonte Hatcher a/k/a “Diggs,” 41, Poughkeepsie, NY Romell Hearn a/k/a “Mel,” 45, Poughkeepsie, NY Nicole Kane, 36, Highland, NY Daquan Killian, 32, Poughkeepsie, NY Dwan Scafe, 36, Poughkeepsie, NY Charges remain accusations; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Since its 2017 launch, OAG’s SURGE Initiative has removed 980 traffickers. Law enforcement partners included NYSP SIU-HV, NYSP K-VGNET, and OCTF detectives under the supervision of OCTF Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. Attorney General James thanked all involved agencies for their dedication to dismantling the narcotics network.