The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force reports the arrest of Dondi Johnson, age 56, at his residence on Whinfield Street in the City of Poughkeepsie related to narcotic and dangerous drug sales in the Poughkeepsie area.
The investigation began after receiving complaints of fentanyl and cocaine dealer operating in the area of Whinfield Street and other areas throughout Poughkeepsie. Drug Task Force Agents began purchasing crack cocaine from the defendant which was later tested and confirmed to be contaminated with fentanyl.
On 03/12/2026 Drug Task Force Agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address along with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Service Unit (SWAT), the Poughkeepsie Joint SWAT team, NYS Parole, Dutchess County Probation, and the Dutchess County Sheriff Office and Poughkeepsie Patrol Bureaus. The defendant was taken into custody without incident and Drug Task Force Agents secured additional evidence related to the sale of narcotics.
Dondi Johnson was charged with the following:
Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, a class B Felony. *Several charges are pending against the defendant related to this investigation.
The defendant was later arraigned in the City of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center, formerly known as the Dutchess County Jail, without bail as required by law.
Fentanyl has been the cause of hundreds of drug overdose and deaths in Dutchess County and mixing fentanyl with cocaine is deadly. Dealers who choose to make money at the cost of others losing their lives will be dealt with swiftly and prosecuted without hesitation.
As with any criminal case, the charges described above are merely accusations, and those named are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If anyone has information regarding these cases 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 emailing your tips to Drugtaskforcetips@gmail.com.
