Leader Of Nassau Drug Ring Sentenced To 15 Years

The leader of a Hempstead drug ring was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced.

Ricky Jackson, 41, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in December. He was arrested in November as part of the largest fentanyl bust in Nassau County history.

“Ricky Jackson directed a drug trafficking ring from his federal prison cell and this investigation led to the largest seizure of deadly fentanyl in Nassau’s history,” Singas said. “The seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners shut down this trafficking network, prevented the distribution of this especially lethal synthetic opioid, and saved countless lives.”

Beginning last April, the Nassau DA, the FBI and the ATF all began investigating a drug ring that operated in and around 100 Terrace Avenue in Hempstead, with the goal of reducing drug and gun-related violence in the Village of Hempstead.

In total, 400 grams of fentanyl valued at more than $130,000, 500 grams of cocaine valued at $50,000 and eight firearms were seized during the investigation. The 400 grams of seized fentanyl represent approximately 150,000 potentially fatal overdoses, and the largest fentanyl seizure in Nassau County history. According to the DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl is fatal in most adults.

On Sept. 15, 2019, Jackson, the ringleader of the eight-person drug ring, who is an inmate at FMC Devens Federal Prison in Massachusetts, allegedly directed his business partner Darren Devane and girlfriend Angelique White to take possession of what was believed to be 100 grams of heroin stored in White’s apartment.

DA investigators and members of the FBI Long Island Gang Taskforce seized the 100 grams from White and searched her apartment the next day — seizing an additional 300 grams of a white powdery substance, Singas said. Testing later revealed the drugs — thought to be heroin — was nearly pure fentanyl.

Jackson’s girlfriend, Angelique White, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance on Dec. 17. She is scheduled to be sentenced to five years’ probation on Feb. 3.

Michael Drew pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree conspiracy on Nov. 21. He is expected to be sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ probation on Feb. 5.

The cases against five others are still pending.