Police: Ulster County Jailed Man Arranged Large Drug Deal

Police say a man serving time at the Ulster County Jail, on drug possession charges, arranged for an associate to pick up a large amount of drugs.

Last month members of the ULSTER REGIONAL GANG ENFORCEMENT NARCOTICS TEAM (URGENT) arrested Allen B. Martin Jr., 56, of Woodstock on drug possession charges. A search warrant of his home yielded of 1087 decks of heroin and $9,825 in cash.

Martin has been in the Ulster County Jail since his arrest. On Tuesday, URGENT developed information that Martin organized from jail for an associate to travel to New York City to obtain a large amount of heroin.

The associated, identified as 45-year-old Jurgen J. Ladstetter, formely of Rifton, was pulled over in New Paltz in Martin’s vehicle. Authorities say Ladstetter was returning from New York City and driving with a suspended license.

A search of the vehicle allegedly led to the discovery of around 99 grams of powder cocaine with an estimated street value of $6,500, 1559 decks of heroin with an estimated street value of $31,500 and a small quantity of marihuana.

URGENT believes the cocaine and heroin were ultimately destined for distribution in the Woodstock and Saugerties areas.

Ladstetter was charged with the 1st-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, 2 counts of 3rd-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felonies, 2nd-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, misdemeanor, a violation for unlawful possession of marijuana, and a traffic infraction for failure to signal turn.

Ladstetter was arraigned in the Town of Rosendale Court and remanded without bail to the Ulster County Jail.

The additional felonies of 2nd-degree conspiracy and 2nd-degree criminal facilitation will be filed against Martin for his role in arranging the drug transaction and providing Ladstetter with the vehicle used in the transaction. He will be arraigned on these new charges in New Paltz Town Court at a later time.