By The TimesLedger
KENNEDY AIRPORT – After 18 months of investigation into an alleged New York-Guyana drug-smuggling ring, five Queens residents and eight others were arrested Tuesday on narcotics and money-laundering charges, the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn said.
Eleven people were arrested on charges of importing and distributing about 70 kilograms of cocaine between June 2002 and June 2003, a press release from the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District said. Another two – both Floral Park., L.I. residents from a different ring – were arrested on charges of laundering some $10 million in drug proceeds through an inactive textile company, the press release said.
Over the 18-month period of the investigation, federal agents made more than 50 cocaine seizures at JFK and Miami international airports, the release said.
The Queens residents arrested were Delven Adams of Rosedale, Shafeek Ali of Richmond Hill, Dorian Caldeira of Jamaica, Azaam Khan of Woodhaven and Pooran Khublall of South Ozone Park.
If convicted of the narcotics charges, Adams faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $4 million. Ali, Khan and Khublall face five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million. Caldeira faces up to 20 years in prison with a fine of no more than $1 million.
JAMAICA – A man was arrested Sunday on charges of setting fire to the car of a former co-worker missing since Feb. 27, the day her car was burned, the New York Post reported Tuesday, citing police sources.
Faustino Chavez was charged with arson and his bail was set at $500,000, the Post reported. Chavez worked with Vinessa Foera, the missing woman, at a seafood restaurant in Westhampton Beach, L.I., the Post reported. It was unclear if Chavez was a Queens resident.
The Queens district attorney had no record of Chavez's arrest, a spokeswoman told the TimesLedger.
QUEENS VILLAGE – A 5-month-old boy was found unconscious inside 113-03 219th St. shortly after 3 p.m. Monday, police said. Jordan Masier, of 163-17 130th Ave., was taken to Franklin General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, police said. There were no signs of trauma and the medical examiner was investigating the cause of death, the police said.
OZONE PARK – A man in his 30s robbed a bank at 111-18 Liberty Ave. Saturday morning, police said. A slim, clean-shaven black man wearing a red cap and a dark jacket entered the bank about 9:35 a.m., passed a demand note and then fled with an unknown amount of money, police said. Police were continuing to investigate.
JAMAICA – A man in his early 20s attempting to evade a ticket drove over a police officer's foot at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and 181st Street and sped away, police said. The 40-year-old officer was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital, where he was treated and then released, police said. Authorities are looking for a green 1996 Chrysler convertible with New York license plate number BKK-3364 in connection with the incident.
OZONE PARK – A 33-year-old man died Tuesday morning after the 2000 Lexus Infinity sedan he was driving veered off South Conduit Avenue at 150th Street and struck a tree, police said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene about 3 a.m. police said.
FAR ROCKAWAY – A 30-year-old man was found stabbed to death at the intersection of Garden Court and Beach 9th Street last Thursday shortly after 9 p.m., police said. Ricardo Herrera, of 729 Beach 9th St., about a block from where his body was found, was stabbed five times — twice in the back, once in the abdomen, once in the cheek and once in the neck, police said.
JAMAICA – A 26-year-old woman was shot once in the hand shortly after 11 p.m. March 30 at the intersection of 174th Street and 110th Avenue, police said. The woman was taken to Jamaica Hospital for treatment, police said. There were no arrests but police were continuing to investigate.
JACKSON HEIGHTS – An off-duty city firefighter was arrested Saturday after allegedly grabbing an on-duty traffic officer's radio and throwing it away, police said. The New York Post reported that the firefighter, Damian Lapene, was angry about a parking ticket and that he threw the officer's radio on top of a roof. Lapene was charged with obstructing the administration of government and grand larceny, the police said.
JAMAICA – A man was arrested Sunday on charges of setting fire to the car of a former co-worker missing since Feb. 27, the day her car was burned, the New York Post reported Tuesday, citing police sources. Faustino Chavez was charged with arson and his bail was set at $500,000, the Post reported. Chavez worked with Vinessa Foera, the missing woman, at a seafood restaurant in Westhampton Beach, L.I., the Post reported. It was unclear if Chavez was a Queens resident. The Queens district attorney had no record of Chavez's arrest, a spokeswoman told the TimesLedger.
