Ashante Coston Pled Guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree
Defendant Expected to be Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Ashante Coston, 30, of Port Jervis, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Coston pled guilty, it is expected that he will be sentenced to six (6) years in prison to be followed by three (3) years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on July 7, 2025.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on October 24, 2024, parole officers from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision conducted a home visit at Coston’s residence in the City of Port Jervis. Coston was on parole at the time for a 2019 robbery conviction. During the visit, officers found multiple glassine envelopes containing powdery substances. Police officers from the City of Port Jervis Police Department responded and recovered 111 glassines containing a substance which tested positive for fentanyl, as well as numerous other empty glassine envelopes used to package narcotics. Coston later admitted to the police that he was selling the fentanyl. At the plea proceedings, Coston admitted to possessing fentanyl with the intent to sell it.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Port Jervis Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Coston. District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for their assistance during the investigation.
“Fentanyl poses a real and present danger to our communities,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “While drug dealers look for easy profit on the backs of those addicted by these terrible substances, we collectively suffer by its persistent spread. Law enforcement will continue to identify those responsible for distributing this poison and we will continue to seek lengthy prison sentences to help make our streets safer.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter Fernandez.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
