Officials ID 7 Charged in Long Island Heroin Bust

Officials have identified seven of nine people charged in a multi-million dollar illegal drug pipeline between Mexico and New York.

The nine defendants were indicted in recent weeks for trafficking heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and anabolic steroids into New York, said the Nassau County District Attorney’s office. The drugs were then sold online via Craigslist and in person to undercover officers in North Hempstead, officials said.

Ajay Carter, also known as Jose Zambrano, 38, and Miguel Tormo, 42, both of Astoria, face grand jury charges of first- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Carter faces additional charges of first- and third- degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Judge Teresa Corrigan set bail for both Carter and Tormo at $5 million. Carter faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the top charge while Tormo faces 20 years if convicted.

• Sign up for the Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts

Cesar Romero-Astudillo, 24, of the Bronx, is charged with second-degree conspiracy, operating as a major trafficker, first- and third- degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and first-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Luis Alberto Mendoza Rosas, 34, of the Bronx, Carlos Reyes, 39, of the Bronx, Santiago Juela, 33, of Brooklyn and Vincent Belmontes, 24, of Riverside, Calif. were charged with second-degree conspiracy and first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Two other unnamed defendants from California and Mexico were charged with second-degree conspiracy, first- degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. They have not yet been arraigned.

In summer of 2013, investigators discovered Carter and Tormo had partnered to sell heroin in the New York area, officials said. Carter sold cocaine and MDMA on Craigslist while Tormo met with others to buy drugs, the DA said. Undercover officers bought a total of one pound of heroin in four transactions from Carter and Tormo in Great Neck and Manhasset, officials said.

Romero-Astudillo and Mendoza Roses worked with the two unnamed defendants to possibly smuggle heroin into the area in a Dodge Durango, the DA said. Investigators say they believe Romero-Astudillo also delivered proceeds from narcotics sales to an auto body shop where the Durango was serviced and readied to head back to Mexico.

The car was stopped in New Jersey by state police in September, officials said. Police searched the car and discovered five kilograms of black tar heroin inside the engine compartment, the DA said.

The investigation is ongoing as officials look into the defendants’ use of drug mules and the transfer of cash between New York and Mexico.

• Like us on Facebook for news updates

“The abuse of heroin and opioids is an epidemic that affects not just Nassau County, but the entire nation,” said County Executive Ed Mangano. “The Nassau County Police Department is working daily to take down dealers, stop the flow of drugs into our neighborhoods and catch those responsible for the death of our young people.”

“Our department is committed to protecting the public by getting heroin off our streets,” said Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter. “By working with our partners in drug law enforcement, we have acted decisively to ensure that those who bring this destructive drug into our communities will be brought to justice.”

The investigation was initiated by the Nassau DA’s office and conducted jointly with the Nassau County Police Department, the Special Narcotics Prosecutor of New York City, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s NY Drug Enforcement Task Force, which consists of the DEA, NYPD and New York State Police.

Photos: Officials at press conference|Ajay Carter|Carlos Reyes Luis Alberto Mendoza Rosas|Santiago Juela|Cesar Romero-Astudillo|Miguel Tormo. Credit: NCDA

More on Patch:

• Man Sentenced in Violent Rape, Robbery in E. Garden City Following Sandy
• Police: 3 Performed Unlicensed Massages in Franklin Square
• Police: 11 Cars Damaged Last Week
• Cops: Group ‘Destroyed’ Area of Lido Beach Park
• No One Hurt as School Bus Goes Up in Flames on Sunrise Highway
• DA: Major Heroin Pipeline Into Long Island Busted
• Cops Probe Most Recent Threat to Half Hollow Hills East
• Police: Patchogue Teens Stole Packages From in Front of Homes
• Police Release Photo of Riverhead Bank Robber
• Town Honors Pro Soccer Star From North Babylon
• Moe’s Southwest Grill to Open in Melville Thursday
• Glen Cove Police: New Phone Scam Targets Elderly