Milford man found guilty of drug charges

Headed interstate drug ring distributing heroin MILFORD — On July 22, a Pike County Jury convicted Wayne Allen Smith, 30, of Milford of leading a heroin distribution ring that spanned the tri-state area. Smith was convicted of three counts of Delivery of heroin, one count of Criminal Conspiracy to Deliver heroin, and three counts of Criminal Use of a Communication facility, all felonies. During the two day trial Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin presented evidence that Smith was the leader of a heroin distribution ring that operated in the Milford, Matamoras and Port Jervis area. Smith was originally arrested in October, 2008 after a joint investigation by the Pike County Drug Task Force, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Units, the Port Jervis Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Tonkin’s evidence showed that an undercover sheriff’s deputy from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department began purchasing heroin from Ruben Pardo of Port Jervis. After Pardo was arrested in an unrelated incident by the New York State Police, the undercover deputy learned that he could purchase heroin from Wayne Smith. The investigator then arranged four separate sales of heroin. During the first sale, he purchased fifty bags of heroin from Wayne Smith for $550.00. During the second sale, the investigator purchased 49 bags of heroin from Amber Brewer, an associate of Smith. On a third occasion, he bought 50 bags of heroin for $550 from Raven Conklin, another associate of Smith. On a final occasion, the investigator bought 100 bags of heroin for $1,000 from Amber Brewer and Richard Smith. The evidence showed that all of the heroin purchased came from Smith. Smith faces sentencing before Pike County President Judge Joseph Kameen on September 9. He faces a maximum of 81 years in prison and over $1,000,000 in fines. Raven Conklin had previously pleaded guilty to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and Criminal Conspiracy to Deliver Heroin and is awaiting sentencing. Amber Brewer had previously pleaded guilty to Criminal Conspiracy to Deliver Heroin. Brewer was to be sentenced on July 29. Richard Smith had previously pleaded guilty to Criminal Conspiracy to Deliver Heroin. He also faced sentencing on July 29. Ruben Pardo had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Delivery of Heroin. President Judge Joseph Kameen sentenced Pardo to a total sentence of five to 15 years and a fine of $11,000. Tonkin praised the interstate cooperation in this case, saying “Drug dealers should know that law enforcement officials on both sides of the Delaware River will work together to investigate, arrest and prosecute them.”