Steve Lieberman

slieberm@lohud.com

A 56-year-old Rockland Highway Department foreman faces a charge of selling cocaine as part of a countywide drug distribution network by driving around the county in a government vehicle while working, authorities said today.

Bernard Hughes III, a West Nyack resident, has been suspended by the county pending the outcome of a fourth-degree conspiracy charge following his arrest during the weekend. His arrest on state charges resulted from an undercover federal investigation that included the Rockland Drug Task Force, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said.

Hughes is among 11 people accused of selling powdered cocaine in several villages and towns during work hours, Zugibe said. Undercover officers observed the cocaine sales of several grams of cocaine involving Hughes during the past year, he said.

Zugibe said Hughes was one of six people facing state charges of selling powder and crack cocaine in Rockland County as part of an organization allegedly led by Congers resident Jemel Goode, who faces federal drug charges with his brother and four others. The federal indictment was released Aug. 9.

Zugibe described Hughes as a "low-level dealer" in the organization who conspired with a mid-level dealer to transport and sell the drug. Hughes also bought cocaine for his personal use, Zugibe said.

“In the course of that federal investigation, it was discovered that Hughes was involved with Goode’s cocaine network," Zugibe said.

County Executive Ed Day said Sunday that the county suspended Hughes for 30 days with pay pending the filing of discilinary charges and a civil service hearing, as well as disposition of the criminal case. Hughes is paid $136,524 annually, according to the Empire Center's See Through New York salary database of government employees.

“This administration has not, and will not tolerate criminal activity by employees and punishment will be swift and sure for those who engage in criminality," Day said in a news release.

Zugibe said at the time of the indictment that the charges resulted from "hundreds of hours of investigation and surveillance over a 12-month period, led by the Rockland County Drug Task Force.

"Not only were we able to arrest street dealers, but also the two brothers who were allegedly running the large-scale cocaine distribution network," he said.

The Rockland District Attorney's Office works with the U.S. Attorney's Office and federal law enforcement agencies as part of an anti-corruption task force.

Hughes faces a maximum of seven years in prison. He has been released without bail by West Haverstraw Justice Kevin Russo, pending court hearings.

Twitter: @lohudlegal