21 Indicted In Massive LI Gang, Deadly Fentanyl Takedown: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A total of 21 people were indicted Monday on drugs and weapons trafficking charges after a massive takedown in Suffolk County, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Tierney said 18 defendants, including members of the "9-Trey Bloods" gang, were charged with conspiracies to possess and distribute multiple narcotics and weapons.

The years'-long investigation led to the recover of more than 250 grams of fentanyl, 200 grams of cocaine, 220 gram of methamphetamine, 200 pills of assorted narcotics, 12 illegal firearms and nine large capacity ammunition feeding devices, Tierney said.

Tierney, with Suffolk Coupnty Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., and Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison announced the 197-count indictment that included six conspiracies to distribute and possess narcotics and firearms; the indictment covers 63 total criminal acts dating back to December 2021, Tierney said.

The massive crackdown was a victory in the war on the narcotics scourge that's swept the area in recent years, Tierney said.

"In Suffolk County, we had over 350 young people die last year from fentanyl. That is more young
people from Suffolk County than those who died during all the years of Vietnam war put together. We can’t stand by and let this continue,” Tierney said. “Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, firearms and accidents. Preventing fentanyl deaths is the number one priority of my office."

Beginning in early 2022, members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s fentanyl task force, the East End Drug Task Force, and Gang Violence Task Force, in collaboration with members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s telephone records and surveillance section, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and Riverhead Police Department began an investigation into several members and associates of a criminal organization known as the "9-Trey Bloods," who were trafficking deadly narcotics, including fentanyl; trafficking and possessing firearms; and committing acts of violence in Suffolk County, Tierney said.

The crimes began in the East End area and spread westward, officials said.

Law enforcement used various investigative methods including the execution of over 190 search warrants into residences, vehicles, cellular telephones, and other digital data sources, as
well as thousands of hours of physical and electronic surveillance to gather evidence and intelligence about narcotics and firearms trafficking related to the targets of the sting, Tierney said.

The investigation culminated in a three-month grand jury presentation charging 18 of the 21 defendants with six separate conspiracies related to narcotics and weapons trafficking and possession; the indictment also charged the 21 defendants with the 63 separate criminal acts, including the possession of 12 illegal firearms, nine large capacity ammunition feeding devices, a gang related shooting, a fentanyl sale that resulted in a fatal overdose, several undercover narcotics transactions, and possession with intent to sell multiple controlled substances, Tierney said.

Tierney said the incidents involved in the charges included:

- The fatal overdose of 25-year-old woman at the Rodeway Inn, 3055 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, on November 13 to 14, 2022.

On November 13, at about 9 p.m., Justin Llewellyn sold Yasmin DeLeon, 25, and another individual fentanyl and crack cocaine at a room at the Rodeway Inn in Ronkonkoma, prosecutors said. The next morning, DeLeon was unresponsive to attempts from multiplen individuals to wake her up; a few minutes later, Llewellyn entered the room and attempted to administer Narcan to DeLeon, which had no effect, Tierney said. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they were unable to resuscitate the her, he added. Llewellyn was arrested and was in possession of drugs, including fentanyl; law enforcement executed a search warrant on his vehicle and recovered drug paraphernalia including scales and an “overdose kit” containing multiple additional doses of unused Narcan, Tierney said.

Llewellyn was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in an faces up to 12 years’ incarceration, Tierney said. He was also charged with second-degree conspiracy for conspiring to distribute narcotics, Tierney said. Llewellyn faces up to 25 years to life incarceration on that charge, Tierney said.

- A shooting at Connetquot Avenue and Veterans Memorial Highway in Central Islip on August 20, 2022.

According to Tierney, the incident took place at the intersection of Connetquot Avenue and Veterans Memorial Highway in Central Islip, at around 2:04 p.m. in the afternoon on August 20, 2022. Tyree Lawrence shot a black handgun through the windshield of his own car at least 10 times at a 2009 Cadillac CTS sedan, which he believed to be driven by a rival gang member, Tierney said. Several civilians who were in their cars saw the shooting and called 911, Tierney said. Although the intended victim’s vehicle was struck multiple times, that person was not shot, Tierney said. Lawrence was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted assault and faces up to 15 years’ incarceration for that charge, Tierney said.

In addition, Lawrence was charged with second-degree conspiracy for conspiring to distribute narcotics and multiple narcotics sales, Tierney said.

- Criminal sale of three firearms illegally transported from Pennsylvania and three additional illegal firearms recovered at a Bay Shore residence from January 2 to 4, 2023.

Between December 15 and January 3, Justin Wright, Robert Stone, and Raiven Logan arranged for Logan, a Pennsylvania resident, to purchase three firearms in Pennsylvania and sell them to Wright and Stone in New York, Tierney said. On January 3, members of law enforcement conducted surveillance in Manhattan and saw Logan transfer a medium-sized bag from her vehicle to the trunk of Wright and Stone's vehicle, Tierney said.

Law enforcement then followed Wright and Stone to Suffolk County, where theyn conducted a car stop, Tierney said. Subsequently, detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and recovered two 9mm pistols, one .38 caliber revolver, two high-capacity magazines, and ammunition for each gun from the trunk of the vehicle, in the bag they'd seen Logan transfer to Wright and Stone, Tierney said.

Logan was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm and faces a maximum of 25 years’ incarceration for the crime, Tierney said.

Wright and Stone were arrested and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; each faces a maximum of 15 years’ incarceration for that charge, Tierney said.

On January 4, the morning after Wright was arrested, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home in Bay Shore, where they recovered three additional loaded handguns, two large capacity ammunition-feeding devices, ammunition for all three guns, methamphetamine tablets, and a small quantity of fentanyl, Tierney said. Wright was also charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the weapons found at his home and faces up to 15 years’ incarceration for the charge, Tierney said.

In addition to the firearms-related charges, Wright was also charged with second-degree conspiracy for conspiring to sell narcotics, as well as multiple narcotics sales in the indictment, Tierney said.

- Recovery of an assault rifle, two additional loaded firearms and narcotics on January 11.

On January 11, law enforcement arrested Richard Owens at a deli in Central Islip, Tierney said. At the time of his arrest, Owens possessed about 11 grams of cocaine, 4 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, diazepam tablets, and amphetamine tablets, prosecutors said. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on his vehicle, which was parked near the deli; from his car, police recovered an additional 11 grams of cocaine, morphine tablets, amphetamine tablets, two scales, and packaging materials, Tierney said. Subsequent to Owens' arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Ronkonkoma, where they recovered a loaded AK-47-style assault rifle, a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, a loaded Taurus .38 special ncaliber revolver, several large capacity magazines, matching ammunition, and narcotics packaging materials, Tierney said. Owens faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and up to 15 years’ incarceration, Tierney said. Owens was also charged with second-degree conspiracy for conspiring to sell narcotics, as well as multiple narcotics sales, Tierney said.

- Recovery of three loaded handguns, large capacity feeding devices, and multiple controlled
substances at a residence in Brentwood on March 16.

On March 16, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Steven Hunt's home on Prospect Avenue in Brentwood, Tierney said.

Law enforcement recovered three loaded handguns, two 9mm pistols, including a ghost gun, and a .45 caliber pistol, two large-capacity ammunition-feeding devices, and ammunition from Hunt's bedroom closet, Tierney said. Law enforcement also recovered about 16 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of methamphetamine, and assorted tablets containing MDMA, methamphetamine, and oxycodone, Tierney said. Hunt was charged with a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon an faces 25 years to life incarceration, Tierney said.

In addition, Hunt was charged with second-degree conspiracy for conspiring to distribute narcotics, Tierney said.

Of the 21 defendants, nine defendants were arrested and arraigned on the indictment from April 19 to 21 before Judge Richard I. Horowitz; several of the remaining defendants are pending arraignment, Tierney said. Of the indicted defendants, 11 are charged with bail eligible offenses; eight of those are currently in custody, one has posted bond and one remains at large, Tierney said.

Indicted defendants, according to Tierney, include:

1. Amina Atelek, 22, of Deer Park, faces a top count of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and up to 10 years’ incarceration; Atelek is still at large, prosecutors said.

2. Charles Cooper, 36, of Shirley faces a top count of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and up to 20 years’ incarceration; Cooper is bail eligible and is currently in federal custody, Tierney said.

3. Dajuan Davis, 40, of Central Islip faces a top count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and up to 9 years’ incarceration; Davis is bail eligible and currently in custody, Tierney said.

4. Kellie Gibbs, 39, of Huntington faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration; Gibbs is not bail eligible and not in custody, Tierney said.

5. Michael Grodner, 58, of Huntington faces a top count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and up to 2 ½ years’ incarceration; Grodner is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

6. Henna Harris, 47, of Central Islip faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and up to 10 years’ incarceration; Harris also nfaces up to 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration on second-degree conspiracy charges, Tierney said. Harris is not bail eligible and is not in custody, he added.

7. Osvaldo Hernandez, 47, of the Bronx, faces a top count of second-degree criminal solicitation in and up to 2 1/3 to 7 years’ incarceration; Hernandez is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

8. Cynthia Hermann, 65, of Sayville, faces a top count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and 5 ½ years’ incarceration; Hermann is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

9. Michelle Horn, 31, of Deer Park, faces a top count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and up to 9 years’ incarceration; Horn also faces up to 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration on second-degre conspiracy charges, Tierney said. Horn is bail eligible and currently in custody, he added.

10. Steven Hunt, 42, of Brentwood, faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in and 25 years to life incarceration; Hunt is bail eligible and is in custody, Tierney said.

11. Robert Jenkins, 62, of Bay Shore, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration; Jenkins is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

12. Davon Lawrence, 31, of Huntington Station, faces a top count of second-degee conspiracy in and up to 12 ½ to 25 years’ incarceration; Davon Lawrence is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

13. Travis Lawrence, 35, of Ronkonkoma, faces a top count of second-degee criminal sale of a controlled substance and up to 14 years’ incarceration, Tierne said. Travis Lawrence is additionally charged with second-degree conspiracy and faces 12 ½ to 25 years’ incarceration for that charge; Travis Lawrence is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

14. Tyree Lawrence, 30, of Ronkonkoma, faces a top count of first-degree attempted assault and up to 15 years’ incarceration, Tierney said. Tyree Lawrence additionally faces charges of second-degree conspiracy and 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration; Tyree Lawrence is bail eligible and is in custody, Tierney said.

15. Terrence Lee, 33, of Riverhead, faces a top count of second-degre conspiracy and up to 12 ½ to 25 years’ incarceration; Lee is not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

16. Justin Llewellyn, 34, of Wyandanch, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy in the and up to 25 years to life incarceration; Llewellyn is bail eligible and is in custody, Tierney said.

17. Raiven Logan, 26, of East Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania, faces a top count of first-degree criminal sale of a firearm and up to 25 years’ incarceration; Logan is bail eligible and is in custody, Tierney said.

18. Richard Owens, 33, of Ronkonkoma, faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and up to 15 years’ incarceration, Tierney said. Owens additionally faces charges of second-degree conspiracy and 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration; Owens is bail eligible, posted bail, and is not in custody, Tierney said.

19. George Rodriguez, 48, of Medford, faces charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and up to 9 years’ incarceration, Tierney said. Rodriguez faces additional charges for second-degree conspiracy and 8 1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration; heis not bail eligible and is not in custody, Tierney said.

20. Robert Stone, 36, of Islip, faces charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in and up to 15 years’ incarceration; Stone is bail eligible. He posted bail and is not in custody, Tierney said.

21. Justin Wright, 33, of Bay Shore faces charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and up to 15 years’ incarceration, Tierney said. Wright faces additional charges for second-degree and 12 ½ to 25 years’ incarceration; Wright is bail eligible and is in custody, Tierney said.

"This collaborative effort led to an incredible number of illegal guns, deadly drugs and dangerous criminals being taken off our streets,” Toulon said. "Fentanyl has taken a devastating toll on our county and operations like these are a step toward keeping our residents safe."