Drug Task Force Pounces After Receiving Information on Dangerous Drug Sales

The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force has been working on numerous investigations into narcotic and dangerous drug dealers operating on Main Street in the City of Poughkeepsie or in municipal parking lots off Main Street.  Following the raids and arrests conducted by the Drug Task Force on Main Street on 10/03/24, Agents started to receive information regarding a person selling narcotics behind the buildings located between 453 Main Street and 458 Main Street.  

Drug Task Force Agents identified the drug dealer as Leonardo De La Cruz, age 25.  As a result of this investigation Drug Task Force Agents were able to purchase narcotics from De La Cruz in that area.  On 10/07/2024  Drug Task Force Agents located De La Cruz in the that same area and took him into custody where he was found to be in possession of a quantity of fentanyl packaged for sale as well as crack cocaine, both dangerous drugs.  Both Fentanyl and Cocaine are the source of most overdoses in Dutchess County including the recent overdoses on Main Street that occurred on 10/04/2024.  De La Cruz was transported to Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office where he was charged with the following offenses.  

Leonardo De La Cruz

• (1) Count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree with intent to sell, a Class B Felony
• (1) Count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th degree, a Class D Felony.,

De La Cruz was later arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to DCJ on $75,000 cash bail, $150,000 secured bond, or $250,000 partially secured bond.

The Drug Task Force is working diligently and quickly to identify those persons responsible for selling narcotics and dangerous drugs to community members.  The public is urged to keep reported dealers in the Dutchess County area to the Drug Task Force.

If anyone has information regarding this case or about any other individuals selling drugs in Dutchess County, you are urged to contact the Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or by sending an email to the following email address: DrugTaskForceTips@gmail.com.

As with any criminal case, the charges described above are merely an accusation and those individuals named in this release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.