POUGHKEEPSIE – An employee of Hudson River Housing, working in the county’s homeless shelter, known as “The Pods” was arrested by the Dutchess County Drug Task Force on Thursday following a lengthy investigation into the sale of cocaine at the shelter. The pods are located on the same property where the former Dutchess County Jail is located.
Poughkeepsie resident Marlene Sosa, 32, has been charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance and is being held at the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office pending arraignment in the City of Poughkeepsie Court.
Detective Sergeant Adam Harris, the coordinator of the task force, said his agents began an investigation in February after residents of the shelter alerted the task force to a security guard was selling dangerous drugs inside the pods. “This caused an immediate response by the Drug Task Force and investigation due to the vulnerability of homeless community members.”
Harris said the investigation included undercover agents purchasing cocaine from Sosa at or near the pods on multiple occasions. She was employed as a security guard by Hudson River Housing which is one of the contract agencies that assist in managing the shelter.
Task force agents, assisted by sheriff’s deputies took Sosa into custody while she was working inside the shelter.
“This investigation and arrest is a good example of the relationship our agents have with community members, including our local homeless population, where individuals feel comfortable coming forward with information regarding illegal activity,” Harris said.
Sheriff Kirk Imperati said they had received concerns from residents of drug activity for several months and the drug task force followed up on leads and were able to make an arrest. Acknowledging complaints from homeowners in the vicinity of the shelter, Imperati said, “The residents of north Hamilton Street and the pods can put their minds at ease.”
Hudson River Housing manages…
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