8 Indicted In Illegal Narcotics Mail Order Scheme: Suffolk DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Eight people were indicted in connection with an international cocaine distribution ring, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Tuesday.

Cocaine parcels weighing a kilogram were shipped from Puerto Rico to Long Island through the U.S. Postal Service and then sold on the streets in Suffolk and Nassau counties, Tierney said.

Eleomar Perez-Serrano and his co-conspirators, Maria Nieves, Carlos Vazquez, Brian Ruiz-Chaparro, Linda Wahlen, Lynn Chodkowski, Samuel Rodriguez and Omar Lopez-Perez face drug charges.

"These defendants allegedly used the United States Postal Service to ship numerous parcels containing cocaine from Puerto Rico to locations in both Suffolk County and Nassau County," Tierney said. "While these alleged peddlers of dangerous and illegal drugs were creative in their attempts to violate the law, thanks to our national law enforcement partnerships, we unraveled the scheme. Drug dealers should be on notice, we will find you and bring you to justice."

Perez-Serrano, 33, of Westbury, received parcels believed to hold cocaine every few weeks between March 2022 and June, prosecutors said.

This March, when his predecessor was killed in Puerto Rico, Perez-Serrano assumed leadership of the local operation and coordinated the shipment of cocaine parcels to Suffolk County and to his apartment building in Westbury, where he lived with Nieves, the DA said. After taking possession of the narcotic, the group distributed cocaine in Suffolk County, investigators said.

Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants on June 6 and found the following, the DA said:

• At the apartment of Perez-Serrano and Nieves in Westbury, members of law enforcement recovered two-kilogram bricks of cocaine, one of which was found unsecured beneath a sink, and the other was found in a box beneath a child’s crib, officials said. Law enforcement also found numerous bags containing cocaine and crack cocaine that were packaged for sale, eight cell phones — including ones used to procure and distribute cocaine — three digital scales used to weigh drugs, a money counter, materials used to package drugs for sale, and approximately $25,000 in cash, authorities said.
• At Ruiz-Chaparro's home in Huntington Station, law enforcement recovered four ounces of cocaine, two cellular telephones, a digital scale and materials used to package drugs for sale, officials said.
• Ruiz-Chaparro received a parcel believed to contain cocaine and engaged in narcotics distribution along with Perez-Serrano, allowing Perez-Serrano to use his vehicle to further the distribution of cocaine in Suffolk County, prosecutors said.
• At Rodriguez's home in Bay Shore, law enforcement recovered a cell phone he used to procure cocaine, more than $9,000 in cash, and a digital scale, investigators said. Rodriguez purchased large amounts of cocaine for re-sale from Perez-Serrano, prosecutors said.

During the investigation, Perez-Serrano and Vazquez discussed making at least $2,000 a day from the street level sales of cocaine in Suffolk County, which would amount to nearly $250,000 in profit during the conspiracy, Tierney said.

In addition to street level deals, Perez-Serrano also sold cocaine to resellers, making an even greater profit, officials said.

After search warrants were executed on June 6, the USPS Office of Inspector General became aware that two additional parcels were in transit from Puerto Rico and headed to locations previously used by Perez-Serrano to receive parcels containing cocaine, authorities said. One of the parcels was addressed to Wahlen's Huntington Station residence, and the other was destined for Perez-Serrano and Nieves' apartment, prosecutors said.

The parcels were seized and each found to contain roughly 35 ounces of cocaine — two kilograms in total— that were hidden within pool float boxes, the DA said.

"The Postal Inspection Service continues to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and keep them from using the Postal Service to distribute illicit drugs and endangering the safety of our communities," said USPIS New York Division Inspector in Charge Daniel Brubaker. "Postal inspectors will stop at nothing until all targets are brought to justice."

Perez-Serrano, 33, of Westbury, was charged with:

• One count of operating as a major drug trafficker (acting as a director).
• One count of operating as a major drug trafficker (profiteer-possession).
• Two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• One count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Two counts of first-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• One count of second-degree conspiracy.
• One count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell a narcotic drug).
• Two counts of third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell a narcotic drug).
• Two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Nieves, 28, of Westbury, was charged with:

• Two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• One count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• One count of second-degree conspiracy.
• One count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell a narcotic drug).
• Two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Vazquez, 52, of Huntington, was charged with:

• One count of second-degree conspiracy.
• One count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Ruiz-Chaparro, 34, of Huntington Station, was charged with:

• One count of second-degree conspiracy.
• One count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• One count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell a narcotic drug).
• Two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Wahlen, 57, of Huntington Station, was charged with:

• One count of first-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• One count of second-degree conspiracy.

Chodkowski, 61, of Huntington, was charged with:

• One count of second-degree conspiracy.

Lopez-Perez, 38, of Huntington Station, was charged with:

• One count of second-degree conspiracy.

Rodriguez, 54, of Bay Shore, was charged with:

• One count of second-degree conspiracy.
• One count of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Perez-Serrano was arraigned Monday. He was ordered held on $1.5 million cash, $3 million bond or $15 million partially secured bond while his case pends. Perez-Serrano is due back in court on Aug. 15 and is being represented by Robert Macedonio.

Nieves is scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 and is being represented by Robert Macedonio.

Vazquez is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 2 and is represented by Danielle Coysh.

Ruiz-Chaparro is scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 and is represented by Steve Fondulis.

Wahlen is scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 and is represented by Eric Besso.

Chodkowski is scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 and is represented by Robert Kelly.

Lopez-Perez is scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 and is represented by Brett Bennett.

Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned on July 25 and is represented by Katherine Fernandez.