UTICA, NY – Justin Torres, 37, of Ellenville, New York, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today to 37 months for his role in a brutal drug trafficking operation that flooded Ulster County with fentanyl and cocaine. Torres admitted to distributing and possessing roughly 580 grams of cocaine and 200 grams of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl – enough to kill countless users.
The sentencing is the latest development in a case involving 11 defendants, spearheaded by a joint operation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office’s URGENT (Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team) task force. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III didn’t mince words, calling the operation a vital strike against “poison peddlers” and blasting New York’s cashless bail laws as a disaster.
“If these gangbangers had been charged locally, they would all be out on the streets in two hours continuing their acts of violence against our communities for a year or more while their cases moved through the state court system,” Sarcone fumed in a statement. He demanded a special session of the State Legislature and Governor to repeal the law, citing “massive casualties” and eight years of “long suffering.”
Torres isn’t the only one facing consequences. Joshuan Atkinson already received a staggering 156-month sentence, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Christopher Baez got 71 months plus 5 years supervision. Michael Herry will spend 27 months behind bars with a 3-year supervised release, and Daryl Livingston received 24 months with a 3-year term to follow. Three others are still awaiting sentencing: Joshua Morales (December 3, 2025), Joseph Logan (November 19, 2025), and Timothy Hutcherson (December 17, 2025). Torres also received a $5,000 fine and a 3-year term of supervised release after his prison stay.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel emphasized the intelligence-driven nature of the investigation, highlighting how it disrupted a crucial narcotics pipeline. “HSI New York remains steadfast in our commitment to deploying our expertise…to prevent deadly drugs from reaching our neighborhoods,” Patel stated. Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa echoed the sentiment, calling it a “collaborative effort” and noting the link between drug trafficking and increased crime rates in local communities.
The sentencing of Justin Torres is a small victory in a much larger war. While the U.S. Attorney’s office celebrates this takedown, the streets of Ulster County – and the rest of New York – remain saturated with dangerous drugs. The revolving door of justice, fueled by flawed policies, continues to spin, and the bodies pile up. The fight isn’t over; it’s just entering another grim chapter.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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