Bklyn., Qns. Dealers Sold To L.I. Clients
Detectives slapped cuffs on the wrists of a dozen individuals last week for their alleged role in an extensive drug-dealing ring that operated in Long Island City, Woodside and other areas of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties following a year-long investigation, it was reported.
In all, 121 individuals were pinched through the probe conducted by the NYPD Queens Narcotics Division and the Queens District Attorney’s office on charges ranging from criminal sale of marijuana up to weapons possession.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said last Friday, Jan. 13, that the ring “catered almost exclu- sively to drug buyers from the eastern end of Long Island, virtually turning the Long Island Expressway into the ‘Heroin Highway.'”
Reportedly, the suspects called the main dealer-identified as Jermel Broadhurst, 30, of 29th Street in Astoria- and later drove into New York City to met the dealer’s runners at various locations in the city including hotels, restaurants, diners and stores “in an effort to thwart surveillance.”
“However, unbeknownst to them, they, in fact, were under investigation by my office and the New York City Police Department and being marked for arrest, prosecution and prison sentences,” Brown said.
“Where there are illegal drugs being sold, guns and violence are never far behind,” added Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. “One of the defendants was arrested with a loaded Glock on his way to shoot a customer who owed him money. Another was arrested carrying a loaded AK-47 machine gun. Were it not for the work of NYPD Narcotics detectives and the Queens County District Attorney’s office, these dangerous dealers would still plague Queens streets.”
The other suspects arrested last week are Esteban Bello, 27, of Frost Street in Greenpoint; Shandell D. Crabb, 36, of Humboldt Street in East Williamsburg; Carmen Donatiu, 48, of Frost Street in Greenpoint; Marcos M. Feliciano, 47, of Beach 60th Street in Far Rockaway; Patrick Fortune, 21, of Kingsland Avenue in Greenpoint; Melissa Franqui, 20, and Kenneth Kirkland, 25, both of New Jersey Avenue in East New York; Denise Martinez, 21; Chelene R. Nelson, 24, of 29th Street in Astoria; Wilfred Ortiz, 41, of Brooklyn; and Tneka M. Rios, 32, of Humboldt Street in East Williamsburg.
During the course of the investigation, Brown noted, law enforcement agents seized more than 8,000 glassine envelopes of heroin and more than five kilograms of the drug. Additionally, 2.7 kilograms of cocaine and five pistols, a shot gun and an assault rifle were recovered by authorities.
Various drug paraphernalia-including scales, packaging and a grinder filled with heroin-along a loaded pistol and a variety of drugs including ecstasy, marijuana and prescription painkillers were also obtained by police during court-authorized raids last week.
Doing deals in L.I.C., Woodside
Reportedly, the investigation began in November 2010 as law enforcement sources focused on Broadhurst, who is accused of selling heroin and other illegal narcotics across Queens and the state.
Through wiretaps authorized by the courts, detectives and other investigators ascertained information through 10 phone calls between Broadhurst and other suspects detailing the arrangement of hundreds of drug deals across Queens.
An undercover officer reportedly contacted Broadhurst on Nov. 2, 2010 and inquired about purchasing heroin. Broadhurst arranged for the officer to meet with one of his associates at the Best Western hotel lo- cated at 33-17 Greenpoint Ave. in Long Island City later that day.
Prosecutors said that the undercover agent met with Kirkland and purchased from him 30 glassine envelopes of heroin for $200.
In a second incident, law enforcement sources said, an undercover detective sent a text message about purchasing heroin. Broadhurst allegedly called the officer back and negotiated a deal to sell him 600 glassine bags of heroin.
The transaction was reportedly finalized at the Subway restaurant located at 51-22 Northern Blvd. in Woodside, where the undercover agent was met by Kirkland and his girlfriend, Franqui. For $2,400 in cash, authorities said, the agent was provided by Kirkland and Franqui with a Hennessy cognac box that was actually filled with the 600 glassine envelopes of heroin.
Broadhurst was variously charged with operating as a major trafficker, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon and faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
Kirkland and Franqui were variously charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal facilitation, criminal using drug paraphernalia and criminal sale of marijuana. They each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Other dealers booked
Detectives charged Fortune and Bello for allegedly assisting Broadhurst in the operation between Nov. 2, 2010 and Jan. 11 of this year. Reportedly, the two men performed a variety of tasks including answering telephone calls from customers, directing purchasers to locations, warning associates of potential threats to the business and discussing efforts to avoid prosecution.
Each suspect faces up to nine years in prison after being charged on various counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Martinez was arrested on a charge of criminal facilitation and faces up to a year behind bars for allegedly acting as a lookout during a drug sale involving Kirkland on Dec. 10, 2010. Reportedly, Kirkland sold 50 glassine envelopes of heroin to an undercover officer for $2,000 inside a 99 cent store at 348 Knickerbocker Ave. in Bushwick.
Prosecutors said that Nelson was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance; if convicted, he faces up to nine years in prison.
Ortiz reportedly faces a nine-yea prison sentence if convicted on charges that he allegedly sold a bag of cocaine to an undercover officer for $50 in cash on June 10, 2011.
Finally, Donatiu was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance for allegedly selling 300 glassine envelopes of heroin to an undercover officer for $1,200 on Apr. 12, 2011. She faces up to nine years in prison if convicted.
Couldn’t hide powerful gun
While investigating the drug ring, prosecutors noted that police intercepted calls regarding the movement of weapons. Among the conversations they overheard was a Nov. 14, 2011 chat between Broadhurst and Kirkland, during which the alleged ring leader asked his associate if his parents could store an assault rifle at their Far Rockaway home.
Though later phone conversations, authorities learned that Kirkland’s parents had allegedly agreed to hide the weapon. Broadhurst reportedly arranged for Crabb to transport the rifle from Kirkland’s home to his parents’s residence for a fee.
But while on the way to the Far Rockaway location, law enforcement sources said, Crabb allegedly became lost. Kirkland’s father, Feliciano, reportedly agreed to meet him and Crabb’s girlfriend, Rios, at the Beach 60th Street station on the A line.
Shortly after being picked up, Crabb, Feliciano and Rios-who were riding in a Honda Odyssey minivan-were stopped by police. At the time they were pulled over, Rios was behind the wheel, Crabb was in the front passenger seat and Feliciano was riding in the middle seat.
Moments later, police found the assault rifle-a Norinco semi-automatic MAK-90 loaded with a magazine containing in excess of 10 rounds-under Feliciano’s seat. All three were subsequently taken into custody.
Crabb was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon and faces up to 15 years in prison; Feliciano and Rios were each charged with various counts of criminal possession of a weapon and face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Detectives Robert Anderson and Robert Hawkins of the NYPD queens Narcotics Division conducted the investigation under the supervision of Sgt. Craig Kearney and Lt. Christopher Coll and the command of Capt. Matthew Donagher and Inspector Michael Bryan, commanding officer of Narcotics Borough Queens. Assistant Chief Joseph Reznick, commanding officer of the Narcotics Division, and Chief Anthony Izzo, commander of the Organized Crime Control Bureau, supervised the probe.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David H. Chiang of the Narcotics Investigation Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Wilbert J. LeMelle, bureau chief, Karen J. Friedman, deputy bureau chief, and Philip D. Anderson, supervisor.
