Long Island Man Pleads Guilty To Running Drug Distribution Ring

A Long Island man pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to distributing drugs in the area and having multiple illegal weapons to defend his illegal business.

Ronald Bishop, 36, of Hempstead, distributed crack cocaine on Long Island from 2014 to 2016, and had multiple illegal weapons at his stash house.

“Ronald Bishop’s stash house contained an arsenal of firearms as well as illegal drugs, posing a great danger to the community,” said United States Attorney Richard Donoghue. “This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to bring to justice armed drug dealers who put our communities at risk.”

In January 2016, the Nassau County Police Department's Gang Investigation Squad executed a search warrant at a home in Hempstead that Bishop operated as a stash house and recovered 10 illegal guns, including four pistols, three revolvers, a shotgun, two assault rifles, high capacity magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and more seven grams of crack cocaine, assorted pills, drug paraphernalia and cash.

“Ronald Bishop conspired to deal in deadly illegal narcotics and possessed illegal firearms,” ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict said. “ATF and its law enforcement partners stand united in the fight to keep communities safe from those who seek to do harm to their fellow residents."

Both Donoghue and Benedict thanked the NCPD for its help in the case.

Bishop is facing up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, as well as forfeiture and a fine of up to $5 million.

Photo: Shutterstock