New Rochelle Police Arrest 49 On Drugs, Weapons Charges

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Police in New Rochelle arrested 49 people, who are now facing drug charges and weapons charges. Beginning in May, New Rochelle police detectives in the Special Investigations Unit became aware that heroin stamped with a red smiley face symbol was prevalent in New Rochelle.

An investigation was begun, called Operation Red Smiley, that resulted in the arrests of 49 individuals, 27 of whom were arrested Tuesday.

More than 2 kilos of heroin were seized along with marijuana and firearms, police said.

In February, New Rochelle police and Westchester County District Attorney's Office investigators said they identified two key suspects: Jeffrey Brickle Sr. of New Rochelle and Rafael Rivera of the Bronx.

Police said Rivera was supplying the heroin and was also under investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. He faces state charges as well as federal charges for drug conspiracy and sales.

Rivera's arrest resulted in the identification of Kevin Lynch of Mount Vernon, police said. Lynch was dealing cocaine and other assorted contraband throughout Westchester County, according to authorities.

Police said they quickly identified the members of his operation.

On July 24, New Rochelle police detectives and members of the Pelham Police Department executed three search warrants in New Rochelle and Pelham.

This led to the arrest of seven individuals, police said, and the recovery of heroin, cash and drug paraphernalia.

Several members of the Brickle family were charged. The senior members of the family are Jeffrey Brickle Sr., aka "Pops," and Althea Cutler. Police said these two had numerous customers in New Rochelle and arranged for other family members to also distribute contraband.

Jeffrey Brickle, aka "Gunnar," is the grandson of Brickle Sr. and also is charged in this case, police said.

On Sept. 10, five additional search warrants were executed in Yonkers, the Bronx, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

A total of 50 people were either arrested and charged prior to Tuesday or were charged Tuesday, police said.

One suspect is still being sought, according to authorities.

The charges range from misdemeanor drug possession to first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (loaded firearm), both felonies.

Suspects who have been charged are as follows:

1. Jeffrey Brickle, 31, Tobyhanna, PA
2. Akaimamin McGhee, 23, New Rochelle
3. Denise Jones, 33, New Rochelle
4. Latoya Thomas, 38, New Rochelle
5. Michelle Giordano, Pelham
6. Joaquin Brickle, 35, New Rochelle
7. Rafael Rivera, 40, Bronx
8. Shelton Smith, 59, Bronx
9. Jermaine Brickle, 46, New Rochelle
10. Jeffrey Brickle Sr, 70, New Rochelle
11. Kevin Lynch, 48, Mt Vernon
12. Joseph Milline, 62, New Rochelle
13. William Kemp, 61, New Rochelle
14. Kari Brickle, 29, New Rochelle
15. Sakue Brickle, 29, New Rochelle
16. Althea Cutler, 57, New Rochelle
17. Esteban Perez, 30, New Rochelle
18. Elmos Watkins, 40, New Rochelle
19. Kristi Prela, 24, Yonkers
20. Divine Green, 45, New Rochelle
21. Darryl Hollis, 58, New Rochelle
22. Zaka Hussain, 26, Stamford, CT
23. Jane Andreassi, 55, Port Chester
24. Marco Rabanales, 23, New Rochelle
25. Cheryl Hollis, 57, New Rochelle
26. Alejandro Fernandez, 23, New Rochelle
27. Derek Dellaripa, 30, New Rochelle
28. Andrew Lacerenza, 32, New Rochelle
29. Onasses Hernandez, 40, New Rochelle
30. Christina Lepore, 31, New Rochelle
31. Mindy Lepore, 36, New Rochelle
32. Shawna Bostick, 50, Mt Vernon
33. Andrew Sauro, 31, New Rochelle
34. Richard Guila, 24, New Rochelle
35. Krista Leggieri, 26, Tobyhanna, PA
36. Jeanine Brickle, 44, New Rochelle
37. Peter Shue, 60, Yonkers
38. Willie Graham, 67, Mt Vernon
39. Jeffrey Ianniello, 40, Mamaroneck
40. Leroy Brown, 69, New Rochelle
41. Maurice Jackson, 43, Mamaroneck
42. Frank Martins, 50, New Rochelle
43. Maureen Murray, 50, Mamaroneck
44. William Evans, 55, Yonkers
45. Charles Faulk, 47 , Yonkers
46. Jason Stewart, 42, New Rochelle
47. Joanne Arroyo, 47, Yonkers
48. John Wells, 52, Yonkers
49. Rayette Brown, 53, Mt Vernon

The New Rochelle Police Department said it was assisted in the investigation by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, Westchester County Department of Public Safety, Mount Vernon Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Pelham Police Department and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The New Rochelle Police Department said that one person was erroneously listed in the original press release as having been arrested and charged. That name was removed, making the number of arrests 49, not 50.

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