The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force reports the arrest of Justin M. James, age 30, in the City of Poughkeepsie related to narcotic and dangerous drug sales in the Poughkeepsie and Pleasant Valley area.     

The investigation began after the Drug Task Force Agents identified a narcotic and dangerous drug dealer operating in Dutchess County.  As a result, Drug Task Force Agents began purchasing narcotics from the defendant on multiple occasions in various locations within Dutchess County. 

In the morning of 04/09/2026, Drug Task Force Agents with the assistance of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Poughkeepsie Neighborhood Recovery Unit arrested the defendant at the Harriet Tubman Apartment Complex in the City of Poughkeepsie.  Upon taking the defendant into custody Agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence.  As a result of this arrest and search warrant, multiple packages of crack cocaine was seized.