Antonio Naveo, who pled guilty to several drug-related charges in April 2021, was sentenced on November 18 to 97 months, or more than eight years in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine base and fentanyl in Ulster County, as well as for his unlawful possession of a firearm.

Naveo, 42, was arrested during a March 2019 drug bust. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that between September 2017 and December 2018, he led an organization that trafficked over 500 grams of cocaine base, as well as fentanyl, from New York City and Pennsylvania, respectively, to Ellenville for redistribution at various locations in the Rondout Valley. Naveo also admitted to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

In addition to his prison term, Naveo was also ordered to serve a four-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

Naveo was among seven local individuals who were arrested and have subsequently been found guilty and sentenced as part of the 2019 drug bust. Iqwan Mandiville, of Ellenville, was sentenced to 70 months in prison and four years of supervised released. Randy Mandiville, of Kerhonkson, was sentenced to 42 months, with a term of six years of supervised released. Jennifer McCombs, of Ellenville, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with three years of supervised released. Margaret Vandyke, of Ellenville, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Luis Curet, of Ellenville, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. And Edwin Jorge, also of Ellenville, was sentenced to time served, with three years of supervised release.

Naveo’s sentencing announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael Alfonso, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; and Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT).

This case was investigated by HSI, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT, and the New York State Police, with assistance from the Ellenville Police Department and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.