19 Charged In LI-Wide Drug Ring Takedown: DA

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

LONG ISLAND, NY - Officials announced on Thursday the indictment of 19 people involved in an alleged narcotics distribution ring operating across Long Island and New York City.

Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini was joined by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Nassau County Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Department and the New York State Police to release information during a press conference in Hauppauge.

Officials were investigating the massive rings during a yearlong investigation known as "Operation Moneygram" and linked the people arrested into several drug overdoses across Long Island including three that were fatal, according to the DA.

Some of the arrested are believed to be members of the Bloods gang and were all were charged with second degree conspiracy, the DA said.

According to the DA, the following 14 people in custody:

• Sheron Davis a/k/a “Money Ron,” 31, of Baldwin

• Charles Davis a/k/a “Rock,” 27, of Hempstead

• Calvin Honegan a/k/a “.40 Caliber,” 30, of Freeport

• David Ortiz a/k/a “Big Poppy,” 30, of Rockville Centre

• (removed)
• Shawn Daniels, 34, of Hempstead
• Quamel Key a/k/a “Qua” a/k/a “Reckless,” 27, of Hempstead

• Jhakim Marson a/k/a “Mula,” 25, of Hempstead

• Jeremy McFarland a/k/a “Germ,” 30, of Baldwin

• Tyrik Reese a/k/a “Freak,” 29, of Freeport

• Russell Neiderman, 32, of Freeport

• Cesar Julio Diaz Bautista, 31, of Freeport

• Gerard Lombardo a/k/a “Bones,” 27, of Farmingdale

• Taiquan Cullum a/k/a “Ta Ta”, 29, of Hempstead.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of eight to 25 years in prison.

The investigation, which began in Oct. 2017, focused on Sheron who alleged to have supplied drugs to dealers linked to heroin overdoses in both counties, including two in Suffolk County and one in Nassau County that resulted in death, the DA said.

Officials have seized over 425 grams of heroin, or 15,000 individual doses of heroin, which has a street value of $150,000, the DA said.

The alleged narcotics distribution ring sold heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, opioid pills and other controlled substances. throughout Long Island and New York City.

“They also manufactured narcotics for distribution, including cooking crack cocaine and pressing
pills, which are counterfeit opioids made of dangerous and lethal controlled substances crafted to
look like pharmaceutically manufactured pills,” Sini said.

The investigation involved the use of electronic and physical surveillance.

On Monday, officers executed search warrants at five locations in connection with the alleged
drug operation, including homes in Baldwin, Hempstead and Freeport, the DA said.

The search warrants resulted in the seizure of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, various cutting
agents, assorted pills, a hydraulic kilo press, numerous digital scales, packaging materials, $4,000 in cash, blenders containing narcotics, and sophisticated counter-surveillance equipment, the DA said.

Law enforcement officers also seized a loaded .45 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, and two .9 mm magazines and assorted ammunition, according to the DA.

In addition, a 2018 Toyota Camry belonging to Diaz Bautista was seized as well as two BMWs used to transport the drugs, the DA said.

The car had two electronic traps, or secret compartments commonly used for covert drug trafficking, the DA said.

“These defendants, like all drug dealers, were just out to make a profit with no regard for human
life,” Sini said. “They poisoned our communities with every gram of narcotics they sold. It is clear that the world of drug dealing on Long Island is without borders, which is why the sharing of intelligence among the various law enforcement agencies, like the collaboration that made this investigation possible, is critical.”

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