PUCKHKEEPSIE Bryan Whittle, 47, of Pleasant Valley, entered a guilty plea to narcotics charges in Dutchess County Court in January. On Monday, he was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison and 5 years of post-release supervision. On federal probation at the time of his arrest by the Dutchess County Drug Task Force, Whittle had initially entered a not guilty plea during his 2023 court appearance.
Whittle admitted to the severe felony of criminal possession of a weapon in addition to receiving a 12-year sentence for the narcotics allegation. Judge Edward McLoughlin was legally obligated to sentence the defendant to 10 years in state prison and 5 years of post-release supervision for that particular charge. Concurrent service is provided for the second sentence.
Whittle entered a guilty plea in return for the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office’s recommendation of a shorter sentence.
When determining Whittle’s sentence, Judge McLoughlin took into account his past, particularly the fact that he was on felony probation at the time of his arrest. The judge also mentioned the harm that these harmful substances cause to our neighborhood, saying that “you are giving out fentanyl, which is a curse in someone’s life.” There is no denying the impact this has on families and the community.
According to District Attorney Anthony Parisi, this case demonstrates what can occur when law enforcement agencies work together effectively. In perfect coordination with our drug task force, my office used a variety of investigative techniques to locate, detain, and prosecute a second person who was trafficking in both drugs and firearms on our streets. Parisi also discussed his office’s ties with the law enforcement community. My office’s collaboration with our law enforcement partners is critical to boosting public safety, enhancing efficiency, and bolstering communication.
The case against Whittle was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sinead McLoughlin, who stated, “With this sentence, we have taken another dangerous drug dealer off the streets, making the community a safer place to be.” The task force presented a compelling case to the district attorney’s office.
The task force’s coordinator, Detective Sergeant Adam Harris, stated that agents had learned about fentanyl packages bearing the Chicago Bulls emblem that had been found at the location of recent opioid overdoses. Whittle was found to be the drug distributor during the task force’s and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Neighborhood Recovery Unit’s investigation into the source. Agents carried out a search warrant at Whittle’s Country Commons apartment and found two guns—one of which was thought to be a ghost gun—eight ounces of cocaine, and an unknown quantity of fentanyl.
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