Crack Cocaine Ring Busted In Northern Westchester

PEEKSKILL, NY — A drug ring specializing in selling crack cocaine in Westchester County was organized out of Peekskill, according to The FBI, Westchester and Peekskill police.

“We have all seen the devastating effects that drugs have played in destroying individuals, families, and even communities. We are committed to using every resource, from the local level to the federal level, to make sure that those responsible for this blight are apprehended and sentenced appropriately," Peekskill Police Chief Donald Halmy said in the announcement. "We commend all those involved who put in countless hours to help make Peekskill a better place to live today.”

Last week 13 people were indicted and presented in federal court in connection with the drug ring, according to an announcement by Halmy, Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Thomas Gleason, Commissioner of the Westchester County Police Department.

Wendell Jones, Jesse Dabbs, Jason Bogan, Byron Mountain, Sarah Gillon, Dorothy McAllister (aka Dot), Gustavo Gonzalez (aka Tavo), Kevin Herbin, Willie Sims (aka Black) Maurice Ellis, Isaac Mallory (aka Face), Hakim Anderson (aka Hak) and Rahmel Garraway (aka Major) were collectively charged with narcotics distribution offenses in and around Westchester County, New York.

They were presented in White Plains federal court Friday afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith.

“Long before the opioid epidemic started in this country, crack cocaine was destroying lives," Sweeney said. "It persists as a preferred drug for many of these violent groups to sell, which means our FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force is going after those dealers and their pushers. I want to thank the local law enforcement agencies for the work they put into this investigation because their partnerships are vital to getting rid of the violence these criminals bring to these communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and Complaint unsealed in White Plains federal court:

From at least November 2018 until September 2019, Jones, Dabbs, Bogan, Mountain, Gillon, McAllister, Gonzalez and Herbin conspired to distribute 280 grams and more of crack cocaine. In addition, from at least March 2019 until September 2019, Sims, Ellis, Mallory, Anderson and Garraway conspired to distribute 28 grams and more of crack cocaine.

Conspiring to distribute 280 grams and more of crack cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Conspiring to distribute 28 grams and more of crack cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the Peekskill Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department. The Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force comprises Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, US Probation, ATF, New York State Police, Westchester County PD, Westchester County DAs Office, NYPD, Yonkers PD, Mount Vernon PD, Peekskill PD, Greenburgh PD, and New Rochelle PD.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Jim Ligtenberg and Shiva Logarajah are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment and Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.