Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of five individuals charged with various narcotics-related criminal charges stemming from three separate investigations looking into the possession and sales of cocaine and heroin throughout the Village of Brewster.

In April, investigators received information that an individual was distributing cocaine in public places in the Village of Brewster. Undercover deputies assigned to investigate the complaint gathered intelligence which enabled them to identify the suspected drug dealer as 22 year-old Ever J. Monroy of 21 Brewster Drive, Lake Carmel, New York. The deputies infiltrated Mr. Monroy's operation and purchased cocaine from him on several occasions.

On July 1st, members of the Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit arrested Mr. Monroy without incident. He was charged with 6 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree and 6 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all class "B" felony crimes. Mr. Monroy was arraigned before Village of Brewster Justice Richard O'Rourke and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 secured bond, where he remains today. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Monroy had entered the United States illegally from his native country, Guatemala. In keeping with the standard operating procedures of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Correctional Facility, authorities from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were notified. As a result, ICE agents lodged a federal detainer warrant against Mr. Monroy.

In May, members of the Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit developed information that a large scale heroin distributor and his girlfriend relocated from the Mahopac area to an apartment located on Main Street in the Village of Brewster. According to the information provided to narcotics officers, 29 year-old Jared R. Dimaio and 30 year-old Katherine M. Pelchat set up their illegal enterprise and were selling large quantities of heroin from their home. It is believed that the couple was selling the narcotic to street-level vendors and others from Putnam, Northern Westchester, and New Fairfield counties. The investigation continued with undercover deputies able to purchase heroin from the pair on numerous occasions.

On Friday evening, June 18th, armed with a search warrant, narcotics investigators assisted by uniformed patrol deputies, responded to the suspects' residence and arrested them without incident. A search of the premises was conducted at which time officers seized more than 100 bags of heroin, drug paraphernalia, two firearms and approximately $4,000 in cash.

Mr. Dimaio was charged with five counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree – all class "B" felony crimes.

Ms. Pelchat was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

The pair was arraigned before Village of Brewster Justice Richard O'Rourke and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility. Mr. Dimaio remains in jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or secured bond, while Ms. Pelchat remains incarcerated at the correctional facility on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

The third in a series of investigations into drug trafficking throughout the Village of Brewster resulted in the arrest of two Westchester County residents. Mr. Roberto Garcia-Quezada, 48 years-old of 24 East Hyatt Street, Mt. Kisco, New York and 29 year-old Carlos Martinez-Buch of 79 Broadway, Ossining, New York were arrested on July 3rd by members of the Narcotics Enforcement Unit. Their arrest culminated a six week investigation into the sale of street-level amounts of cocaine in public places throughout the Village of Brewster and Town of Southeast. As a result of their probe, undercover investigators were able to gain access into Mr. Garcia-Quezada's operation and purchase cocaine from him on several occasions.

Mr. Garcia-Quezada was charged with four counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, class "A-II" felony crimes and four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, class "B" felony crimes.

Mr. Martinez-Buch was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class "A" misdemeanor.

Both men appeared before Patterson Town Justice John King acting on behalf of the Village of Brewster Justice Court. Mr. Garcia-Quezada was ordered held at the Putnam County Correctional Facility without bail while Mr. Martinez-Buch was released without bail pending a future court appearance.

Upon entry into the correctional facility, it was determined that Mr. Garcia-Quezada had entered the United States illegally from his homeland, Guatemala. As per the standard operating protocol of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, agents from ICE were notified. They responded to the jail and upon their investigation, placed a federal detainer warrant against Mr. Garcia-Quezada.

If Mr. Garcia-Quezada is convicted of the class "A-II" felony crime he is facing, he may be sentenced to a term of incarceration from six years to fourteen years in a New York State correctional facility as determined by a court.

Anyone convicted of a class "B" felony crime may be sentenced from one year to nine years in a New York State correctional facility as determined by a court.

If convicted of the class "A" misdemeanor crime, Mr. Martinez-Buch may be sentenced to a jail term for of up to one year in the Putnam County Correctional facility as determined by a court.

Upon their release from jail, Messrs. Monroy and Garcia-Quezada will be turned over to ICE agents and face further action to possibly include deportation proceedings.

Investigators noted that there is no indication that those arrested were affiliated with each other. The investigation is continuing. ###