ELLENVILLE – Local law enforcement agencies continue their hot streak, as the Ulster County Sheriff's Department's URGENT Task Force busted up a drug ring earlier this week. Early on Tuesday morning, the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team, or URGENT, made 14 arrests in Ellenville, Napanoch, Kerhonkson, and Accord, the result of a four month investigation into drug sales in those areas.

According to a press release published on Wednesday, the URGENT team, in conjunction with the Ulster County Emergency Response Team (UCERT), executed search warrants at five locations throughout the area, ranging from 42nd Street in Kerhonkson, to Route 209, Towpath Road, and Port Ben Road in Wawarsing. There, law enforcement agents found drugs and associated paraphernalia, including crack cocaine, marijuana, electronic scales, and packaging materials. As is often the case in drug busts, police also found weapons, which ranged from the mundane to the exotic: there were firearms, brass knuckles, daggers, and even swords.

Of the 14 arrests, 10 were arrested on drug-related charges: Jesus LaSanta, 26, of Wawarsing; Christopher Langjan, 22, of Wawarsing; Kevin Ramos, 19, of Ellenville; Louis Bellaro, 20, of Kerhonkson; Kevin Thomas, 47, of Ellenville; Angel Smith, 24, of Poughkeepsie; Paul Acosta, 20, of Wawarsing; Brianna Ducker, 18, of Kerhonkson; William Pennell, 21, of Wawarsing; and Christina Reilly, 21, of Wawarsing.

Wawarsing residents Harry Krom, 27, and Jacob Lester, 25, were both charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Another Wawarsing resident, Erik Camacho, 29, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, and Alyssa Mayer, 18, also of Wawarsing, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

The Ellenville Police Department aided URGENT and UCERT in the arrests and investigation.

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