District Attorney Hoovler: Recidivist Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty
Raymond Burnett Pled Guilty to Criminal Sale 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 on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Raymond Burnett, 47, of Middletown, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Burnettpled 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 August 19, 2025. The conviction is Burnett’s seventh (7th) felony and thirty-fifth (35th) total criminal conviction.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, the City of Middletown Police Department initiated an investigation into the trafficking of narcotics in and around the City. As part of that investigation, in November 2024, Burnett sold a quantity of fentanyl to an undercover police officer. Subsequently, in December, a judicially-authorized search warrant was executed at Burnett’s residence in the City of Middletown which resulted in the recovery of crack-cocaine packaged for sale. At the plea proceedings, Burnett admitted to knowingly and unlawfully selling fentanyl.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of MiddletownPolice Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Burnett.
“Narcotics have a malignant effect in our communities,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “All too often we see that the drivers of these types of crimes are repeat offenders who willfully profit at the deadly expense of others. While drug dealers might see this conduct as a way to easy money, they should instead know that it is a direct route to jail. We in Orange County law enforcement will not permit this type of dangerous behavior and we will continue to stand between our citizens and these criminals. I commend the dangerous and vital work done by the City of Middletown Police Department to bring this offender to justice.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cassidy Turi.
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.