Orange County News
For Immediate Release Contact: Christopher Borek
July 26, 2021 845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c
District Attorney David Hoovler Announces
Guilty Plea in Montgomery Drug Trafficking Case
Investigation by the New York State Police and New Jersey State Police Resulted in Recovery from Defendants’ Montgomery Residence of Illegal Drugs Having a Street Value of $180,000 and More Than $1.1 Million in Cash
Goshen, NY – Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on July 26, 2021, Marius Schwerberg, 66, and his wife, Nancy Schwerberg, 44, both of Montgomery, pled guilty in Orange County Court before Judge William L. DeProspo, in connection with a drug-trafficking scheme that was, in part, operated out of their Montgomery home. Marius Schwerberg pled guilty to Attempted Operating as a Major Trafficker, and faces five years in prison, to be followed by two years of post-release supervision. Nancy Schwerberg pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and faces a sentence of six months in the Orange County Jail, concurrent to five years of probation. The couple is expected to be sentenced on October 25, 2021. The Schwerbergs also agreed to forfeit over $1.1 million in cash that was recovered from their home in October 2020.
The charges were the result of a joint investigation between the New Jersey State Police and the New York State Police, aided by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, relating to the trafficking of large amounts of cocaine in Morris County, New Jersey. As part of the investigation, on October 21, 2020, a search warrant was executed at the Schwerbergs’ Loch Lane residence in Montgomery, resulting in the seizure of 1,485 grams of cocaine and 17 pounds of marihuana, which, collectively, had a street value of over $180,000. In addition, items used for the cutting, weighing, and repackaging of cocaine; a loaded handgun; and over $1.1 million in cash were recovered during the execution of the warrant. The money represents the largest amount of cash recovered in Orange County history during the execution of a narcotics search warrant.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police and the New Jersey State Police for their investigation and for their assistance in the prosecution.
“Narcotics are destroying the fabric of our communities,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “and large-scale drug dealing is not confined to urban areas. Severe punishments are only one way for us to stop those who make money selling drugs to people who can’t keep themselves from using them. Through the joint efforts of law enforcement in New York and New Jersey, we were able to disrupt this major drug-selling operation, and subject its perpetrators to a measure of the punishment that they deserve.”
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Hoovler and Assistant District Attorney Neal E. Eriksen.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.