Charges against drug dealers dropped; investigations against police officers ongoing

POUGHKEEPSIE – A convicted felon who originally faced seven counts related to drug trafficking in Poughkeepsie had five charges dropped by the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office ahead of his recent trial. Dutchess District Attorney Anthony Parisi dropped charges against Marc Coleman, 36, of Poughkeepsie after learning that the state police investigator involved in Coleman's case is under federal investigation.

New York State Police Investigator Michael O'Flaherty is assigned to the New York State Police's Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET) at Troop K in Poughkeepsie. The U.S. Attorney's Office informed Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi that O'Flaherty is the subject of an ongoing federal investigation, but they declined to comment further. As a result of the investigation, Parisi has declined to file charges against defendants in cases in which O'Flaherty was involved in the investigation.

The revelations about the investigation came to light during Coleman's recent trial. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal sale of a controlled substance, despite having already been charged with several drug offenses following a state police investigation.

The prosecutor dropped the drug charge before Coleman's trial on August 8, 2024. During the trial, Dutchess District Court Judge Edward McLoughlin signed a defense subpoena, ordering investigator O'Flaherty to testify in court. Before the jury went to trial, it was revealed that O'Flaherty planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right to testify on all issues unrelated to the two charges. Invoking the Fifth Amendment protects people from being coerced into making statements that could incriminate them. O'Flaherty stated that he received this instruction from his attorney, Andrew Quinn.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Justice Department declined a request to provide further information on the investigation involving O'Flaherty. A New York State Police spokesperson told Mid Hudson News that O'Flaherty has not been suspended during the investigation and remains assigned to VGNET but is now performing only administrative duties.

District Attorney Parisi told Mid Hudson News that charges against Coleman were dropped because of O'Flaherty's involvement in the case. “The District Attorney's Office brought the charges that could have been sustained without Investigator O'Flaherty's testimony to trial,” and defended his decision. “As with any investigation, my office does not rush to judgment. We treat all parties, including law enforcement officials, fairly and respectfully to ensure a fair and just legal system.”