Two Arrests, Guns and Drugs Seized, In Rockland County Narcotics Investigation

Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division and Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced the arrests of 2 residents from Congers, NY for possession of a controlled substance and 2 handguns. The arrests were the result of search warrants executed last week, stemming from a month’s long investigation conducted by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and the DEA Westchester Resident Office, Tactical Diversion Squad.

On Friday February 10, 2023, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and DEA Tactical Diversion Squad executed the search warrants at residences in Congers, NY and Nyack, NY. The basis of the search warrant was the result of a multi- agency investigation that identified a Rockland man who was selling a large amount of controlled substances throughout Rockland County. With the assistance of the Clarkstown Police Department’s Critical Incident Response Team and the Orangetown Police Department, both the suspected drug dealer and an acquaintance of his were taken into custody. Carl Desir, 48, of Congers, NY and Melissa Brown, 43, of Congers, NY were arrested and charged with the following crimes:

Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 1st (felony)

Criminal Possession Weapon 2nd (2 counts) (felony)

Criminal Possession Weapon 3rd (felony)

Both defendants were arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court and were remanded to Rockland County Jail. They are scheduled to return to court on February 16, 2023. The multi- agency investigation included the Rockland County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, DEA Westchester Resident Office Tactical Diversion Squad, Clarkstown Police Department, Orangetown Police Department, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Haverstraw Police Department. The DEA Westchester Resident Office comprises agents and task force officers of the DEA, Westchester County Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Yonkers Police Department, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, and Orangetown Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by Senior District Attorney Mike Delohery and Senior District Attorney Matt Martinez.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino stated: “These arrests and seizures take two major threats off our streets: guns and drugs. Drug traffickers like Desir profit off the sale of narcotics putting our communities in danger of addiction, overdoses and poisonings. I applaud the hard work by all of our law enforcement partners throughout this investigation aimed at making our communities safer and healthier.”

The Rockland County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force is comprised of investigators of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and officers form the Clarkstown Police Department, Orangetown Police Department, the Haverstraw Police Department and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office.