Score:   1
Docket Number:   SD-NY  7:20-cr-00224
Case Name:   USA v. Nicholas et al.
  Press Releases:
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Keith M. Corlett, Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and Thomas Pape, Chief of Police for the City of Poughkeepsie, announced charges today against MICHAEL NICHOLAS, a/k/a “Pop,” DARREN PARKER, a/k/a “Born,” REGINA CUMMINGS, a/k/a “Gina,” and JAQUON DANCY, a/k/a “Wiz,” with various narcotics-related offenses.  During search warrant operations of NICHOLAS’s residence in Poughkeepsie, New York, law enforcement recovered approximately 15 kilograms of narcotics, including powder cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, and approximately 1.5 kilograms of substances containing fentanyl.  Three firearms were also recovered from NICHOLAS’s residence. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants trafficked in large amounts of fentanyl and other narcotics in and around Dutchess County.  Fentanyl is one of the leading causes of overdose deaths and it has devastated communities across Dutchess County and the Southern District of New York.  I commend our law enforcement partners in stopping those who allegedly traffic in fentanyl and other narcotics.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said:  “The fact that these individuals are facing charges today demonstrates the degree of danger their alleged drug trafficking was to the City of Poughkeepsie.  I commend our law enforcement partners who continue to keep our cities safe.”

NYSP Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said:  “Once again, excellent police work by our federal, state and local departments has dismantled an alleged drug operation, put four allegedly dangerous individuals behind bars and seized drugs, cash and weapons. As alleged, these dealers were selling and transporting fentanyl, heroin and crack cocaine throughout the Poughkeepsie area. I applaud the hard work of the members involved in this investigation and together we will continue the fight to keep drugs off our streets.”

As alleged in the Indictments unsealed today and statements made in Court proceedings[1]:

From at least September 2018 till February 2020, MICHAEL NICHOLAS and DARREN PARKER conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl.

In addition, from at least January 2020 up to and including March 2020, NICHOLAS and REGINA CUMMINGS conspired to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. 

Finally, in March 2020, JAQUON DANCY conspired with others to distribute 40 grams or more mixtures and substances containing fentanyl.

The defendants were arrested early this morning.  Law enforcement recovered approximately 15 kilograms of narcotics and three firearms during search operations.

*                *                *

NICHOLAS, 33, of Poughkeepsie, New York, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  He is also charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

PARKER, 51, of Poughkeepsie, New York, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

CUMMINGS, 51, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

DANCY, 25, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, the NYSP, and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Shiva H. Logarajah is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.





Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hbJSfa60CmSOFuCFlRTadXiweod2wb3WnJv_GABRJ38
  Last Updated: 2023-10-29 19:30:05 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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