Cops Pick Up Their Pot At JFK Airport
Three Bronx men who allegedly ordered marijuana from California and had it shipped to John F. Kennedy International Airport via United States Postal Service (USPS) express mail have been charged with criminal possession of marijuana, attempted criminal possession of marijuana and conspiracy.
Approximately 13 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value between $52,000 and $65,000 was recovered.
The suspects were identified by Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown as Bronx residents Joseph Basciano, 27, of Dean Avenue; Leonard Filippone, 32, of Logan Avenue; and Andrew Reid, 24, of 642 Vincent Avenue. They were each charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, second-degree attempted possession of marijuana and fourth-degree conspiracy. If convicted, they face up to four years in prison.
Brown announced the charges last Wednesday, May 15, with Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and USPS Inspector-In-Charge Philip R. Bartlett.
“The defendants are accused of using the U.S. Postal Service as a drug courier to deliver to them illicit packages from California, some of which were equipped with tracking numbers so that the defendants could inquire about the whereabouts of the packages in case they got lost or time their delivery,” Brown said. “This alleged criminal activity will not be tolerated.”
“I want to commend the Queens prosecutors, Postal Service inspectors and our detectives for their vigilance in thwarting attempts to distribute marijuana literally mailing it in.” Kelly added.
Bartlett said, “It is our duty as postal inspectors to go after those individuals who attempt to ship illicit drugs through the U.S. mail. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the other law enforcement agencies involved in helping us achieve our goal-to protect the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse.”
According to the charges, during the course of a long term investigation, that included physical surveillance and court-ordered eavesdropping, it was learned that the three defendants conspired among themselves and others in Queens and elsewhere to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana by ordering it from an individual in California and having the contraband shipped, via express mail, to various Bronx locations.
Between Feb. 5 and May 2, it is alleged that marijuana-of which approximately 13 pounds has been recovered- was shipped through the mail and received at John F. Kennedy Airport, where the packages were processed and then either forwarded to the Bronx locations or seized at the airport by U.S. Postal Inspectors.
In at least one instance, it is alleged that Chatos sent the tracking number to one of the defendants so that he could log onto the U.S. Postal Services’ website and track the delivery status of the package.
Brown said that the investigation is continuing.
The investigation leading to the arrests was conducted by Det. Brian O’Keefe of the NYPD Organized Crime Investigation Division, under the supervision of Sgt. Mike Gerard, Lt. Christopher Murphy and Capt. Donald Boller and the overall supervision of Inspector Brian O’Neill.
Brown thanked the Postal Inspectors, under the supervision of Bartlett, for their assistance in the investigation.
Assistant District Attorney Brian E. Kohm of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gerard A. Brave, bureau chief, and Mark L. Katz, deputy chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
