7 Arrested For Drug Trafficking In LIC's Ravenswood Houses

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — Seven people face charges of drug trafficking in the Ravenswood Houses in Long Island City, prosecutors announced.

Law enforcement arrested seven Queens residents as part of a yearlong investigation into a drug ring in the Long Island City housing project, prosecutors said Monday. The six Long Island City residents and one Queens Village man face drug trafficking and weapons charges that could carry up to 30 years' prison time, according to the charges.

Police arrested the Queens Village resident, Donte Wiggins, on Wednesday at his home, where they found two .40-caliber semi-automatic handguns, magazines and ammunition, prosecutors said. Police also retrieved a plastic bag filled with cocaine from Wiggins' buttocks, according to the charges.

The investigation by the NYPD and NYC Department of Investigations lasted from March 2018 to April 2019. The drug ring's suspected leader, Long Island City resident Jamarl Gilmore, was arrested in August 2018.

The seven people arrested and charged are:

• JAMARL GILMORE, 38, of 35th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, is charged with first-, second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. The defendant was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on August 2, 2018 and remanded without bail. The defendant’s next date is May 1, 2019. If convicted, Gilmore faces between 15 and 30 years in prison.
• DONTE WIGGINS, 38, of 215th Place in Queens Village, Queens, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a pistol or revolver ammunition and unlawful possession of marijuana. The defendant was arraigned Thursday and held in lieu of $50,000 bond. The defendant’s return date is April 29, 2019. If convicted, Wiggins faces between 3 1/5 to 15 years in prison.

• DAMEIN WALKER, 40, of 12th Street in Long Island City, Queens, is charged with second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of pistol or revolver ammunition. The defendant was arraigned Thursday and held in lieu of $10,000 bond. The defendant’s return date is April 25, 2019. If convicted, Walker faces between 3 1/5 to 15 years in prison
• GERARD DENNIS, 27, of 21st Street in Long Island City, Queens, is charged with second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. The defendant was arraigned Thursday and held in lieu of $25,000 bond. The defendant’s return date is May 16, 2019. If convicted, Dennis faces between 6 and 14 years in prison.

• CHEYENNE PARSON, 27, of 35th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds. The defendant was arraigned on April 10, 2019 and released on his own recognizance. The defendant’s return date is June 5, 2019. If convicted, Parson faces between one and nine years in prison.
• DELTON MCCALL, 23, of 24th Street, in Long Island City, Queens, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. The defendant was arraigned Thursday and released on his own recognizance. The defendant’s return date is June 3, 2019. If convicted, McCall faces between one and nine years in prison.
• KAVON ROBINSON, 23, of 36th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. The defendant was arraigned Thursday and released on his own recognizance. The defendant’s return date is May 14, 2019. If convicted, Robinson faces between one and nine years in prison.