13 Face Federal Charges, Two Face State Charges in Takedown
of Narcotics Distribution Rings Involving Members of the Bloods Street Gang in
Riverhead
Earlier today, three separate indictments were unsealed in
federal court in Central Islip charging 12 defendants as part of a coordinated
federal and state takedown of several large-scale crack cocaine distribution
operations in various areas of the East End of Long Island. In addition, one defendant was charged in a
complaint with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and
possession of crack cocaine. The
defendants facing federal charges were arrested today, arraigned this afternoon
before United States Magistrate Judges Anne Y. Shields and Steven I. Locke, and
all ordered detained pending trial. Two
additional defendants were arrested on related New York state drug charges by
members of the East End Drug Task Force.
Three federal defendants remain fugitives.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Timothy Sini,
District Attorney, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDA), Geraldine
Hart, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), George P. Beach
II, Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), David Heggermiller, Chief,
Riverhead Police Department (RPD) and Ashan M. Benedict, Special
Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York
Field Office (ATF), announced the
charges.
“The toxic mix of street gangs, drug dealing and illegal
firearms poses a direct threat to the safety of our citizens and our
community,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “The Eastern District and our law enforcement
partners in the FBI, ATF and Suffolk County will continue to target, penetrate
and destroy criminal gangs that inflict addiction, violence and grief on the
people of Suffolk County.” Mr. Donoghue
expressed his grateful appreciation to the NYSP Troop L and its Commander,
Major David C. Candelaria, for their assistance in the investigation.
“The epidemic of illegal drugs and associated criminal activity
negatively affects individuals and communities across the country, from every
background and walk of life,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge
Sweeney. “As these arrests today
demonstrate, the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, along with our federal,
state and local partners, will not rest until the individuals and criminal
networks responsible for creating this atmosphere of lawlessness and violence
are held accountable for their alleged crimes.”
“The defendants as alleged, were part of a ring made up of
gang members that spread dangerous narcotics throughout their communities,
stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Benedict.
“ATF stands with our law enforcement partners as a united front to
prevent these illegal narcotics rings from harming our citizens. I would like
to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s office
for their work in prosecuting the case.”
“Because of the great collaboration among federal, state and
local law enforcement, the East End of Long Island is safer,” stated Suffolk
County District Attorney Sini. “My office will continue to work tirelessly with
all of our law enforcement partners to eradicate violent street gangs from our
communities. I want to particularly applaud the outstanding work done by my
office’s East End Drug Task Force and the prosecutors in the Eastern District
of New York.”
“The importance of working with our law enforcement partners
is evident in the results of the takedown of these crack cocaine distribution
operations,” stated SCPD Commissioner Hart.
“These individuals, many of whom are affiliated with the Bloods street
gang, have spread narcotics in our communities and have preyed upon the
addicted. We will continue to target dealers and dedicate resources to fighting
this epidemic.”
“Today’s arrests are the result of an aggressive strategy to
stop illegal drug trafficking and keep crack cocaine and other deadly drugs off
our streets,” stated NYSP Superintendent Beach.
“Together, with our partners in federal, local and state law
enforcement, we can and will stop the infiltration of harmful narcotics into
our communities and we will continue to work vigilantly to put dangerous
individuals like these gang members behind bars.”
“The cooperation between agencies in this investigation is
unparalleled,” stated RPD Chief Heggermiller.
“Thanks to everyone for their dedication and relentless work protecting
our communities here on the East End.”
As alleged in court filings, in early 2018, members of the
FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force and the Suffolk County East End Drug Task
Force began conducting an investigation into street gangs and narcotics
traffickers operating in and around Riverhead.
The defendants, many of whom were members or associates of the Bloods
street gang, were involved in the large-scale distribution of crack
cocaine. Several of the defendants would
“cook” powder cocaine into crack cocaine, to increase its potency and street
value. In one instance, while a
defendant was cooking cocaine, a child was present in the residence. Members of law enforcement executed search
warrants at multiple locations today, recovering seven firearms, including an
AR-15 rifle, three kilograms of cocaine, four pounds of marijuana, a quantity of
crack cocaine and heroin and $10,000 in cash.
The charges in the indictments are allegations, and the
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a
program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities
they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for
everyone. The Department of Justice
reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the its renewed focus on targeting violent
criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with
federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to
develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The federal cases are being handled by the Office’s Long
Island Criminal Division. Assistant
United States Attorneys Nicole Boeckmann and Michael Maffei are in charge of
the prosecution.
The Defendants:
Terrill Latney (also known as “Motis” and “Mo”)
Age: 39
Riverhead, New York
Romaine Hopkins (also known as “Foo”)
Age: 36
Riverhead, New York
Matthew Pittma (also known as “Pearl”)
Age: 43
Southampton, New York
Kenneth Belcher (also known as “KB”)
Age: 31
Riverhead, New York
Kotarra jackson (also known as “Red”)
Age: 36
Riverhead, New York
John Gamble (also known as “Bones”)
Age: 37
Shirley, New York
Randy Smith
Age: 33
Riverhead, New York
Deon Shorter
Age: 22
Mastic, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-606 (JS)
Tramaine Brown (also known as “Bootsie”)
Age: 29
Jamesport, New York
Quandol Lewis
Age: 34
Riverhead, New York
Demario Weston (also known as “MK”)
Age: 34
Riverhead, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-604 (JS)
Dayna Barrow (also known as “SI”)
Age: 35
Riverhead, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-605 (JFB)
Daniel Harris
Age: 25
Riverhead, New York
E.D.N.Y. 18-MJ-1112
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