Errant text message leads to heroin bust

Michael Valkys 

Poughkeepsie Journal 

April 3, 2010

PINE PLAINS — Dialing a wrong number could mean felony convictions for three people accused of dealing heroin.

The three are due Wednesday in town court after authorities said they texted a potential buyer to set up a transaction — only to learn the customer was an agent with the Dutchess County Drug Task Force.

Authorities said the agent received a text message around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday from someone who had mistaken the agent's number for that of a drug customer.

The agent assumed the role of a buyer and, after several texts back and forth, set up a meeting at a business on South Main Street.

Around 9 p.m., authorities said, the suspects approached the agent to complete the deal and were arrested. The task force recovered 20 bags of heroin.

Agents also went to an apartment on Church Street and arrested another suspect. Authorities said they recovered 40 bags of heroin there.

Arrested on South Main were Pine Plains resident Crystal Mazzella, 23, and Bronx resident Quamian R. Hardy, 20. They were each charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Arrested in the Church Street apartment was City of Poughkeepsie resident Leo R. Thompson, 37. He was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Task force Sgt. Brett Orlich said authorities were happy to get the text message.

"Their bad luck is our good luck," Orlich said.