Cocaine, Guns, Cash Seized In Suffolk County Drug Ring Takedown: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Eleven people have been indicted following a long-term, multi-agency investigation into cocaine trafficking in Suffolk County, prosecutors said.

The investigation, led by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and New York State Police, included multiple undercover cocaine purchases, prescription pill sales, search warrants and the seizure of cocaine, guns, cash and vehicles, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

The investigation began in December 2024, when New York State Police started investigating 33-year-old Jonathan Sands, of Middle Island, for cocaine trafficking, prosecutors said.

Between December 2024 and October 2025, an undercover officer purchased cocaine from Sands on multiple occasions, prosecutors said.

On two of those occasions, Sands and his partner, 40-year-old Mario Tarquinio, of Farmingville, also sold prescription pills to the undercover officer, including amphetamine, alprazolam and buprenorphine, prosecutors said.

During the investigation, law enforcement identified 32-year-old Likina Edwards, of Holbrook, and 42-year-old Andrew Trotman, of Mastic Beach, as two of Sands’ cocaine suppliers, prosecutors said. In October 2025, the undercover officer purchased cocaine directly from Trotman, prosecutors said.

By January 2026, investigators learned that 53-year-old Ralph Elliott, of Bellport, served as Edwards’ supplier, while 32-year-old Desean Elliott, of East Islip, assisted in the narcotics operation, prosecutors said. Celine Crawford, 30, of Brentwood, acted as Edwards’ runner,' meaning she delivered narcotics to buyers and collected payments, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement later identified 45-year-old Lenroy Stewartson, of Bay Shore, as Ralph Elliott’s drug supplier, and 24-year-old Lyncoln Clarke, of Bay Shore, as Stewartson’s “runner,” prosecutors said.

As part of the investigation into Edwards’ distribution network, an undercover officer contacted 52-year-old Stanley Strider, of Manorville, who sold the officer more than two ounces of cocaine, prosecutors said.

At the same time, Suffolk County police were conducting a separate investigation into 31-year-old Nicholas Greaves, of Amityville, for selling narcotics and firearms to an undercover officer, prosecutors said.

Between March 2025 and May 2025, an undercover officer purchased cocaine from Greaves on multiple occasions, prosecutors said. Greaves also obtained two semiautomatic pistols and sold them to an undercover officer, prosecutors said.

Investigators learned Greaves obtained the firearms from Stewartson’s residence, which is located near the Mary G. Clarkson Elementary School in Bay Shore, prosecutors said.

Search warrants were later executed at several residences connected to the investigation, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Trotman’s Mastic Beach residence on Nov. 14, 2025, and recovered $1,500, more than eight ounces of cocaine and a loaded and operable 9mm handgun, prosecutors said.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Stewartson’s Bay Shore residence on March 15 and recovered two loaded and operable firearms and eight ounces of cocaine, prosecutors said. Stewartson was also found with $13,800 at the time of his arrest, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement executed several search warrants at multiple defendants’ residences on April 28, prosecutors said.

At Ralph Elliott’s Bellport residence, investigators recovered cocaine, crack cocaine, multiple cellphones, assorted jewelry, $20,800 in cash and a loaded and operable Taurus semi-automatic .40 caliber pistol, prosecutors said. Investigators also found suboxone inside Elliott’s BMW convertible, and Elliott was found with $3,600 in cash at the time of his arrest, prosecutors said.

At Edwards’ Holbrook residence, investigators recovered $305 in cash, assorted jewelry and multiple cellphones, including one phone used by Edwards to communicate with an undercover officer, prosecutors said. Edwards was also found with $5,500 at the time of her arrest, prosecutors said.

At Desean Elliott’s East Islip residence, investigators recovered crack cocaine, approximately $2,900 in cash and multiple cellphones, prosecutors said.

“This multi-agency investigation yielded significant results and removed nearly a dozen dangerous drug dealers from our communities,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. “I commend and thank all those involved for their dedication to keeping our streets safe.”

In all, the investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately $48,700 and 11 vehicles, prosecutors said.

“These defendants had no regard for the dangers they or this operation posed to the community and beyond,” New York State Police Superintendent Steven James said.

The defendants:

Lyncoln Clarke, 24, of Bay Shore, is charged with conspiracy in the second degree, prosecutors said. Clarke was arraigned Friday before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro, who ordered him held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond, prosecutors said. He faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Brian Griffin.

Celine Crawford, 30, of Brentwood, is charged with a top count of second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Crawford was arraigned Friday before Ambro, who ordered her placed on supervised release, prosecutors said. She faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. She is represented by Eric Besso.

Likina Edwards, 32, of Holbrook, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Edwards was arraigned Friday before Ambro, who ordered Edwards placed on supervised release, prosecutors said. Edwards faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. Edwards is represented by William McDonald.

Desean Elliott, 32, of East Islip, is charged with a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, prosecutors said. Elliott was arraigned Friday before Ambro, who ordered Elliott placed on supervised release, prosecutors said. Elliott faces up to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Pierre Bazile.

Ralph Elliott, 53, of Bellport, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Elliott was arraigned Tuesday before Acting Supreme Court Justice Bryan Browns, who ordered him remanded, prosecutors said. Elliott faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Katherine Fernandez.

Nicholas Greaves, 31, of Amityville, is charged with a top count of first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, prosecutors said. Greaves was arraigned June 1 before Browns, who ordered him remanded, prosecutors said. Greaves faces up to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Sean Dixon.

Jonathan Sands, 33, of Middle Island, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Sands was arraigned Wednesday before Browns, who ordered him held on $300,000 cash, $600,000 bond or $900,000 partially secured bond, prosecutors said. Sands faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Danielle Papa.

Lenroy Stewartson, 45, of Bay Shore, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Stewartson was arraigned June 1 before Browns, who ordered him held on $700,000 cash, $1.4 million bond or $2 million partially secured bond, prosecutors said. Stewartson faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Robert Macedonio.

Stanley Strider, 52, of Manorville, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Strider was arraigned May 29 before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz, who ordered him held on $350,000 cash, $750,000 bond or $1.5 million partially secured bond, prosecutors said. Strider faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Ira Weissman.

Mario Tarquinio, 40, of Farmingville, is charged with a top count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, prosecutors said. Tarquinio was arraigned Friday before Ambro and released on his own recognizance, prosecutors said. He faces up to 2 1/2 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Ian Fitzgerald.

Andrew Trotman, 42, of Mastic Beach, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said. Trotman was arraigned Friday before Browns, who ordered him remanded, prosecutors said. Trotman faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, prosecutors said. He is represented by Michael Elbert.

The attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Drug traffickers who flood Suffolk County with poisonous substances will be found, and they will be held accountable,” Tierney said. “This indictment reflects the tireless work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to dismantle organizations that prey on our neighborhoods, fuel addiction, and contribute to violence.”