Orange County News

For Immediate Release                                     Contact: Christopher Borek
December 5, 2018                                        845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c

District Attorney Hoovler Announces Guilty Pleas in 

Middletown Gang Narcotics Cases

Two Middletown “Coke Wave” Gang Members Plead Guilty 

to Selling Narcotics and Conspiracy 

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, Traquane Dolson, 22, and Mason Milligan, 19, each of Middletown, both pled guilty before Orange County Court Judge William L. DeProspo to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, in connection with their roles in  the “Coke Wave” street gang.

At the time that he pleaded guilty, Dolson admitted that on April 17, 2018, he sold cocaine near 148 Linden Avenue, in the City of Middletown.  Milligan admitted that on August 2, 2017, he sold cocaine in the vicinity of Low Avenue and Smith Street, in Middletown.  Both defendants admitted that they were part of a conspiracy to sell narcotics on and around the Linden Avenue area of Middletown, and that they belonged to a group which identified itself as “Coke Wave.”

Prosecutors argued that members of “Coke Wave” attempted to be the exclusive sellers of narcotics in and around Linden Avenue, and that they discouraged others from selling narcotics in that area by intimidating them and by committing violent acts.

Pursuant to plea agreements placed on the record at the time the defendant’s pleaded guilty, the District Attorney’s Office will recommend that Dolson be sentenced to eleven years in prison and three year’s post-release supervision when he is sentence on January 25, 2019. Prosecutors started that they will be recommending that Milligan be sentenced to eight years in prison and two years post-release supervision when he is sentence on January 24, 2019.  The Court stated that it would sentence Dolson to no more than eleven years in prison and Milligan to no more than seven years in prison.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation of the case and the defendants’ arrests.

“I commend the City of Middletown Police Department for recognizing the connection between violence and organized narcotics activity,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Where there is organized narcotics dealing, gun violence inevitably follows. Only through the coordinated efforts of various law enforcement agencies can we stem the rise of narcotics gangs. My Office will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to stop the formation of narcotics street gangs.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Neal 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.

Traquane Dolson

Mason Milligan