3 Indicted On Narcotics, Weapons Trafficking Charges On LI: DA

BRENTWOOD, NY — Three individuals have been indicted on charges relating to "large scale narcotics scales" and conspiracy to distribute narcotics, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday.

Santos Hernandez, Rudy Euceda, and Brian Blanco were indicted following a long-term investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad into a narcotics and weapon trafficking operation in Brentwood, Tierney said.

According to the investigation, between April 6 and November 9, 2023, Hernandez, Euceda and Blanco allegedly conspired to sell Class “A” felony weight amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, primarily out of their Brentwood residences, Tierney said.

The investigation involved several investigative techniques, including the use of an undercover
member of law enforcement who purchased narcotics from the three and a firearm from Hernandez, the execution of search warrants, audio and video recordings, and physical surveillance, the DA said.

Over the course of five months, Hernandez, 24, of Brentwood, reportedly sold both cocaine and fentanyl to an undercover police officer on six separate occasions and sold a loaded and operable firearm on one occasion, Tierney said.

Euceda, 37, of Brentwood, was identified as a reported fentanyl cocaine supplier to Hernandez and sold cocaine on eight separate occasions, Tierney said.

On November 7, a search warrant was executed at Euceda’s residence and resulted in the seizure of cocaine, cash, scales, and packaging materials, Tierney said. Additionally, a 2018 Toyota pick-up truck purchased using drug proceeds was seized at the time of his arrest, the DA said.

Blanco, 20, of Brentwood, was identified as a reported fentanyl supplier to Hernandez; Blanco was observed supplying Hernandez with more than 400 pills on November 9, Tierney said.

According to Tierney, Hernandez was arrested and charged with:
- One count of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony
- Five counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, felonies
- Seven counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, felonies
- One count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony
- One count of second-degree conspiracy, a felony
- One count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a violent
felony, and
- one count of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm, a violent felony.

Also, according to Tierney, Euceda was arrested and charged with:

- One count of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a
felony

- Five counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felonies
- 10 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance,
felonies

- One count of second-degree conspiracy, a felony, and

-Two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors.

According to Tierney, Blanco was arrested and charged with:

-Second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony
- Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony
- Second-degree conspiracy, a felony.

On December 13, County Court Judge Steven A. Pilewski ordered Euceda held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $2,500,000 million partially secured bond. Euceda faces a maximum of 20 years of incarceration if convicted on the top count of the indictment, the DA said.

He is due back in court on January 30, 2024 and is being represented by Robert Lazzaro, Esq.; Lazzaro was not immediately available for comment.

On December 14, Judge Pilewski ordered Hernandez to be held on $500,000 cash, $1 million
bond or $5 million partially secured bond; Hernandez faces a maximum of 20 years of
incarceration if convicted on the top count of the indictment, Tierney said. Hernandez is due back in court on January 16, 2024 and is being represented by Dan Sullivan, Esq. Sullivan was not immediately available for comment.

On December 19, Blanco was arraigned on the indictment before Judge Pilewski. Under current New York State law, the District Attorney’s Office could not request bail for Blanco, "despite the serious nature of his alleged offenses, which carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years’ incarceration for selling fentanyl to Hernandez, as well as, 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison for the conspiracy charge," Tierney said.

Blanco is represented by James D’Angelo, Esq.; he is due back in court on January 25, 2024. D'Angelo was not immediately available for comment.

"Through the great work of the detectives and prosecutors on this case, we were able to dismantle this organization and each of these defendants now face significant prison time," said Tierney. "Nonetheless, despite our extensive investigation revealing that defendant Brian Blanco was the alleged fentanyl supplier in this operation, due to our current New York State bail laws, we are unable to request bail at the time of his arraignment."