The morning of Aug. 29, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced three indictments charging 29 defendants on a total of 329 counts following three separate long-term joint investigations into narcotics trafficking that spanned from Brooklyn into Suffolk County.
Members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies joined Tierney in announcing the dismantling of five narcotics and firearms distribution operations, which according to Tierney is the largest combined law enforcement effort in Suffolk County history.
In the months that led up to the indictments, law enforcement executed search warrants of cell phones, residences, vehicles, and other digital sources of data.
These warrants, coupled with thousands of hours of electronic and video surveillance, resulted in the identification and subsequent investigation of multiple alleged drug dealing operations centered around the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, xylazine, methamphetamines and heroin. These alleged drug dealing operations spanned from Brooklyn to Montauk, with significant activity in Riverhead, Patchogue, Mastic, Shirley, Ronkonkoma, Bohemia, Sound Beach, Holbrook, Brentwood, and East Islip.
More than five kilograms of cocaine, 759 grams of xylazine, 809 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl-xylazine mix, 301 grams of heroin-xylazine mix, 2313 fentanyl tablets, 280 grams of MDMA, and over three kilos of crystal meth recovered during the investigations.
Also seized during the investigations were seven firearms, 16 vehicles, over $170K in cash, 39 gold coins valued at approximately $100K, and $287,000 in now frozen bank accounts.
Among the 329 total counts are conspiracy to distribute narcotics, operating as a major trafficker, the sale and possession of narcotics, the possession of multiple illegal firearms, attempted murder of two police officers and an assault upon another police officer.
"The scale of this operation cannot be overstated. These three indictments alleging over 300 total counts attributed to 29 defendants, represent more than just numbers – they represent a substantial blow to the illicit drug trade in our county and a significant step towards safer, healthier communities for all our residents," said Tierney. "Our dedicated teams have worked tirelessly to bring down several alleged interconnected drug trafficking networks that have plagued our streets for far too long.
The investigations were conducted jointly by detectives from the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad, Narcotics Section, and TRACE Unit; the New York State Police; the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the United States Department of Homeland Security (HSI); the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s East End Drug Task Force (EEDTF).
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jake Kubetz, Alyssa Costantino, Gabriella DeRosa, William Nash, and Robert Archer of the Narcotics Bureau. The civil asset forfeiture action is being litigated by the Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Bureau.
Incidents involving The Long Island Advance coverage area
People v. Carlos Reyes-Redrovan, et al., includes 113 separate counts and 12 defendants, three of which live in The Long Island Advance coverage area.
According to the investigation, in Aug. 2023, Carlos Reyes-Redrovan of Philadelphia, also known as “Ghost,” approached off-duty undercover officers at a bar in Center Moriches. Reyes-Redrovan allegedly offered the officers a sample of cocaine that he was selling, and provided them with his cell phone number.
Following an investigation and undercover purchases, law enforcement established that Reyes-Redrovan allegedly had multiple narcotics suppliers who supplied him with cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Reyes-Redrovan’s alleged cocaine suppliers were Akim Slater of Ronkonkoma, Christopher Mejia-Acosta of Queens, and Xavier Calderon of Brooklyn. Reyes-Redrovan’s alleged heroin suppliers were Jason Velez-Lopez and Juan Chivata-Velez, both of Queens. Reyes-Redrovan’s alleged fentanyl suppliers were Frank Muhammed of Mastic, Wayne Bristel of Bellport, and David Brown of Shirley.
On June 18, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at four locations including the residences of Brown and Bristel. Police allegedly recovered approximately $41,000 cash, a 20-gauge Remington pump-action shotgun, digital scales, six cell phones, and substances that were identified as narcotic diluents.
On June 20, Reyes-Redrovan allegedly arranged for the sale of approximately 300 grams of heroin for $10,000 with an undercover officer. When the undercover officer arrived at the predetermined meet location, Reyes-Redrovan entered the undercover’s vehicle and allegedly sold the officer the heroin. Prior to the alleged sale, Reyes-Redrovan arrived at the location in a vehicle with Velez-Lopez and Chivata-Velez.
At the time of their arrest, Reyes-Redrovan, Velez-Lopez, and Chivata-Velez were allegedly found in possession of cocaine and ketamine, both packaged in a manner consistent with an intent to sell.
On July 2, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Slater’s residence in Ronkonkoma, where they allegedly recovered a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, cocaine, and five digital scales.
During the course of the entire investigation, the defendants allegedly made a total of 25 narcotics sales to undercover officers. From those sales, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,075 grams of cocaine, approximately 613 grams of heroin, and approximately 500 grams of fentanyl.
Indictments of residents of The Long Island Advance coverage area
Frank Muhammad, 36, of Mastic, faces a top count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony. On July 30, Muhammad was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Pilewski, who ordered him held on $3,000,000 cash, $6,000,000 bond or $30,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Muhammad is due back in court on Aug. 22, 2024, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
Wayne Bristel, 39, of Bellport, faces a top count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony. On July 30, Bristel was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Pilewski, who ordered him held on $1,000,000 cash, $2,000,000 bond, or $10,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Bristel is due back in court on Sept. 12 and faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
David Brown, 42, of Shirley, faces a top count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony. On Aug. 5, Brown was arraigned on the indictment before Judge Goglas, who ordered him held on $500,000 cash, $2,500,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Brown is due back in court on Sept. 6 and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
