14 Charged In Takedown Of Nassau Drug Trafficking Ring: DA

The Nassau County District Attorney announced today that 14 people were indicted on charges all stemming from running a drug trafficking ring in the county, which led to at least one death by overdose.

The 14 people were charged with 36 crimes, including operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy. The arrest of the individuals led to authorities seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars, tens of thousands of doses of heroin and more than 20 pounds of marijuana.

“The heroin sold by this drug trafficking ring has been linked to at least one fatal overdose, underscoring the lethality of the poison that these defendants allegedly sold to line their pockets with illicit cash,” DA Madeline Singas said. “Thanks to the teamwork of the FBI Long Island Gang Task Force, we’ve removed at 50,000 doses of heroin from our streets and we are committed to ending this epidemic with every tool at our disposal.”

Singas said that during the arrest of the 14 indviduals, authorities recovered more than a kilogram of heroin (about 50,000 doses worth), 192 grams of cocaine, 22 pounds of marijuana, a gun and $220,000 in cash.

“The spread of dangerous and often deadly opioids is leaving a devastating wake in Roosevelt, and other communities in Nassau County. Our partnerships in Nassau County and with other local, state and federal agencies allow us to use as many resources as possible to put these criminals out of business,” said William F. Sweeney, assistant director-in-charge of the New York FBI. “The FBI Long Island Gang Task Force wants this investigation to serve as a warning to all the dealers who hope these arrests leave a void they can fill: we will pursue them, and do all we can to stop their illegal drug trade.”

According to Singas, the DA's office and the FBI Long Island Gang Taskforce began investing two alleged drug dealers -- Darrell Boyd, aka Fab, and Jason Costa -- in March 2018. Singas said that Boyd was a mid-level drug dealer, selling narcotics out of his home in Freeport. He was assisted by Costa and an unnamed associate, Singas said. Costa allegedly sold drugs when Boyd wasn't available, and the associate bagged heroin.

Boyd also sold drugs from his job as a janitor at the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Singas said.

Several of Boyd’s customers included Joey Bell, Darrell Wilson and Darren Bruce, who Singas said bought heroin for resale, not personal use, based on the quantities they were buying.

During the investigation, authorities identified Tony McClam, Leonard Forbes, Christopher Thomas and Kenta Powell as Boyd's suppliers, Singas said.

McClam was one of Boyd's largest suppliers, Singas said, and allegedly had large amounts of drugs shipped to him from California. Police searched his home on Feb. 25, 2019 and found 1,200 grams of heroin, 19 pounds of marijuana and $890 in cash. Some of the heroin was found inside of a large, homemade candle, Singas said. In addition, more than $215,000 was seized from his bank accounts.

Singas said that the investigation into the ring is ongoing.