LI Man Sentenced To Prison For Possessing Over $23K Of Drugs: DA

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY - An East Patchogue drug dealer was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday after he was found in possession of about $23,000 worth of heroin and cocaine last year, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini.

Victor Nicholas, 31, was convicted by a jury in October of first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, the DA said.

He was acquitted of one count of fourth degree criminal possession of marijuana, the DA said. Nicholas was sentenced to prison by Suffolk County Court Judge Anthony S. Senft Jr.

In November 2018, after an investigation into suspected drug dealing by Nicholas, Suffolk County Police officers executed a search warrant at his home in East Patchogue on Montauk Highway, the DA said. After they entered the home, officers saw Nicholas sitting on a bed in one of the bedrooms, surrounded by packages of heroin, the DA said.

The search warrant resulted in the seizure of over eight ounces of heroin, four ounces of cocaine, a kilo press, cash, assorted drug paraphernalia and packaging materials consistent with drug sales, the DA said. The narcotics seized had an estimated street value of $23,000, the DA said.

Police also found 11 cellphones in the home. A forensic analysis revealed evidence that Nicholas used the burner phones to call "runners" or people who would deliver the narcotics to users, according to the DA.

Hahshim Saunders, 28, of East Patchogue, who was in the home at the time of the search warrant and was later identified as a runner for Nicholas, was also arrested. Saunders pleaded guilty last month to third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2020, according to the DA.

"Each time law enforcement executes a search warrant in which large quantities of narcotics are seized, it prevents those drugs from making their way onto our streets and it potentially saves lives," Sini said. "Our message to anyone selling drugs in Suffolk County is that you will get caught and you will face significant consequences for peddling this poison in our communities. I thank the Suffolk County Police Department and ADAs Danielle Davis and Nicole Felice for their great work in this case."