16 Kings Park Residents Charged in Operation Heroin Highway

Of the 161 individuals arrested in a recent heroin bust, 41 were from Smithtown with Kings Park residents making up more than half of that number; the majority of them being 21 years of age or younger according the the Queens District Attorney's office.

The bust, dubbed "Operation Heroin Highway" played out over the course of a year, originating in Queens and expanding into Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The results of the operation were announced last week by the Queens District Attorney's office. In all, officers seized more than 8,000 glassine envelopes of heroin, more than five kilograms of heroin, 2.7 kilograms of cocaine and five pistols, a shotgun and an assault rifle.

"The main defendants are accused of operating as a tightly knit ring that catered almost exclusively to drug buyers from the eastern end of Long Island, virtually turning the Long Island Expressway in the 'Heroin Highway', said Queens District Attorney, Richard Brown, in a statement.

"This bust shows an inordinate amount of young people from Smithtown but make no mistake it's ravaging families island-wide," said Maureen Rossi, president of Kings Park in the kNOw, an anti-drug coalition.

Rossi says her group  works closely with local law and drug enforcement agencies  applauds the recent arrests and says the heroin problem has reached epidemic levels

"Bottom line, we have a crisis on our hands," said Rossi. "Getting some of the heroin off the street is a big piece of the puzzle."  However, Rossi says we must not forget about prevention and educating young people about the dangers of and addictive nature of opiates. 

The Kings Park School District currently has a program called HealthSmart, as part of its K-12 curriculum as well as Too Good 4 Drugs, which is implemented in eighth grade and is a 10 week program that is given in 40 minute intervals.

"As parents we all have dreams for our children - they don't include handcuffs, needles or dealers," said Rossi. "We need to work together as a community to address this crisis."

The Queens D.A.'s office has released the names of those from Kings Park who were arrested. Some of the names are not released because a case is sealed  Cases that may have been adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, the defendants are enrolled in a drug treatment program or the individual defendants may have pleaded guilty to a violation, are reasons for a case to be sealed.

• Ronald Lombardi, 21, of Kings Park, was arrested on December 27, 2011, and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. A bench warrant has since been issued for his arrest.

• Daniel McGovern, 21, of Kings Park, was arrested on October 24, 2011, and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The case is pending.  

• Daniel McGovern, 21, of Kings Park, was arrested on December 27, 2011, and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The case is pending.  

• Male, 20 - Case Sealed   

• Male, 20 - Case Sealed 

• Male, 18 - Case Sealed  

• Male, 21 - Case Sealed 

• Edward Miles, 20, of Kings Park, was arrested on December 27, 2011, and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The case is pending.  

• Male, 20 - Case sealed.  

• Nicole Molloy, 27, of Kings Park, was arrested on December 28, 2011, and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The case is pending.  

• Scott Molloy, 27, of Kings Park, was arrested on December 28, 2011, and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The case is pending.  

• Christopher Nelson, 19, of Kings Park was arrested on June 17, 2011, and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2011, to seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to four months in jail.

• Male, 22 - Case Sealed.   

• Collin W. Smith, 23, of Kings Park, was arrested on June 3, 2011, and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded guilty on January 11, 2012, to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Sentencing is pending.  

• Male, 23 - Case Sealed.  

• Male, 21 - Case Sealed.   

• Tiffany Wallace, 38, of Kings Park, was arrested on November 1, 2011, and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The case is pending.