Details Released on Gang-Related Heroin, Cocaine Rings, 14 Arrested

Standing before a table piled high with cash and six kilos of heroin and cocaine, a loaded shotgun and handgun, and gang-related magazines, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said 14 have been arrested and charged in the takedown of two major East End drug rings with Bloods gang affiliations — with 40 additional arrests of resellers and runners expected.

"They think they're going to get away. But we're going to get them," Spota said.

Spota described the dismantling of the heroin and cocaine rings, describing drug dealers who had hidden traps in their cars, dressers, and even in the bottom of a fish tank — and one suspect caught with a loaded shotgun at the foot of his bed in Riverhead.

So far, 14 people have been arrested and arraigned, including three members of the Bloods street gang, and multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin have been seized during the execution of more than a dozen search warrants, Spota added.

Law enforcement officials also seized cars, firearms and traps created by drug dealers to hide cocaine and heroin. Investigators even found $95,000 in cash hidden in a trap in a vehicle’s front seat console, Spota said.

The drugs were sold across the East End, Spota said. One dealer allegedly made a weekly purchase of a kilo of cocaine in New York City to sell to street dealers who in turn sold cocaine to users in East Hampton, Riverhead, Southampton and Southold.

The heroin network was run by local members of the Bloods street gang, Spota said.

Spota said investigators worked undercover; the busts, he said are a "testament to the cooperation, collaboration, and persistence of law enforcement" and the key to a successful outcome.

The investigations commenced after patrol officers noticed a "significant rise" in arrests involving heroin and cocaine on the East End, especially in Riverhead and Southampton, Spota said.

The drugs, he said, are not being sold to the rich and famous in the Hamptons but instead, to addicts craving the heroin and cocaine.

The drug dealers were making tremendous profits, he said, buying drugs for $38,000, for example, and selling them for double.

"They make a lot of money, but is it worth it, if they're going to jail? It's not worth it."

He gave a timeline of the arrests and said more than 12 search warrants were executed between June 14 and July 14; the arrests constitute the first phase of the operation, Spota said, but a second phase will consist of asking the grand jury to consider upgrading the charges against some defendants to operating as major traffickers, a Class A felony with a maximum sentence of life in prison.

A cocaine operation in Riverhead and Southampton was helmed by Corey Woodley, 36, of June Avenue in Flanders, Spota said; he and Eric Thomas, AKA "E" 42, of Riverhead, Spota said. Thomas was described as a "significant reseller" for the cocaine distribution network and was on parole on July 14 when he was arrested.

Investigators used a "full panopoly" of electronic surveillance and technology to track down the suspects, he said; on July 14 a search warrant was executed at Thomas' home where more than $4,000, cocaine, scales, and a grinder were found, Spota said.

Other defendants facing criminal charges include Ronald Paschall, also known as “APP”, 42, a Northampton man associated with “r he Stones”, a subset of the Bloods street gang, Spota said.

Paschall has a prior criminal record including assault and felony drug possession; on July 6 he was arrested in Suffolk County by task force investigators as he was returning to the East End from picking up a kilo and a half of cocaine in New York City, Spota said.

Spota said the investigation revealed that Paschall was picking up cocaine twice a week which he then sold to resellers who distributed the cocaine to users in East Hampton, Riverhead, Southampton and Southold Towns.

The investigation broadened, Spota said, into a second distribution ring run by Paschall’s fellow gang members Jimmy Dean, 38, of Baiting Hollow and Dean’s runner, Dwayne Harris, 31, of Riverhead, who sold cocaine primarily.

Also busted was Bloods gang member Ronald Paschall, 42, of Northampton, Spota said; Paschall, he added, allegedly picked up a kilo and half of cocaine on July 6 in New York City and in Yonkers. The drugs were sold across the East End, Spota said.

Dean, a prior felony offender convicted of selling narcotics for which he received a five year prison sentence, is believed to be a leader of the “the Stones” gang on the East End, Spota said.

On July 13, police executed a search warrant at Dean’s Warner Drive home and seized heroin, cocaine, packaging materials, a loaded shotgun in the master bedroom at the foot of Dean’s bed and another firearm, a loaded semi-automatic Glock, in Dean’s car, Spota said. The handgun was traced to North Carolina where it had been reported stolen, the DA added.

More than $100,000 was found in a trap hidden in the car and glove box; a search of Harris' home also turned up heroin, cocaine and multiple cell phones, Spota said.

Paschall and Jerome Carey, 31, of Sound Beach, are both Bloods members; Carey is also a Hats member, Spota said. Drugs were purchased in the Bronx from livery cab driver Reynaldo DeJesus Melo, 39, Spota said.

A search of a home on Zion Street in Riverhead, a home that's long been "a source of concern", where at least one fatal heroin overdose has occurred resulted, led to additional arrests, Spota said.

Spota thanked law enforcement for putting their lives on the line in the investigation and facing serious danger. "The proof in the pudding is the loaded gun at the base of the bed and the handgun," he said.

He applauded the tireless efforts of all involved and said the crackdown has made a "significant dent in the drug trade on the East End." Spota added, "Our work is not done."

Spota added that during the summer months, when East End police departments are struggling to deal with an influx of people, they still allocated resources to the East End Drug Task Force.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said he found the arrests "quite shocking" but said he's heard about the surge in heroin use, even in schools, and thanked law enforcement for working to keep the East End safe.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter hugged Spota. He said he's been on his knees praying for police officers and said he and the town board are "forever indebted to Spota" and efforts.

Both drug distribution networks operated on the East End, primarily in Riverhead and Southampton, but also included cocaine and heroin street sales in Port Jefferson, Mount Sinai, Sound Beach, Mastic, Shirley and the Moriches area, Spota said.

Also at the press conference with Spota were officials of law enforcement agencies affiliated with the East End Drug Task Force including US Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Lt. Pete Healey of the NY State Police, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk County Police Deputy Chief Robert Oswald and Deputy Inspector Armando Valencia, Commanding Officer of the SCPD Narcotics Section, Chief Martin Flatley of the Southold Police Department, Southampton Town Police Chief Rob Pearce, Southampton Village Police Department Chief Tom Cummins, Riverhead Town Police Chief David Hegemiller, and the Suffolk County Probation Department’s Director of Probation Patrice Delpolsky.

"Drug dealers and weapons are a deadly combination. We are pleased to have removed several of both off the streets of Suffolk County during these enforcement operations,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York. "As a member of the East End Drug Task Force, we work as a team to dismantle drug trafficking organizations that flood our communities with drugs and violence".

Arrested in the bust, according to Spota, were:

Ronald Paschall, of Riverhead, an alleged Bloods member, was arrested on July 6 and charge with first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third degree unlawful fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle, reckless driving and other traffic violations, and speeding, police said.

Jerome Carey, of Riverhead, an alleged Bloods member, was arrested on July 6 and charged with first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

John Miles, of Mastic, an alleged Bloods gang member, was arrested on July 6 and charge with first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Cory Woodley, of Riverhead, was arrested on June 14 and charged with first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and failing to display a lit tail lamp during hours of darkness, police said.

Reynaldo DeJesus Melo, of the Bronx, was arrested on June 29 and charged with first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Jimmy Dean, of Baiting Hollow, an alleged Bloods gang member, was arrested on July 13 and charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, two counts of second degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

Dwayne K. Harris, an alleged Bloods gang member from Riverhead, was arrested on July 13 and charged with three counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

Eric Thomas, of Riverhead, was arrested on July 14 and charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

Lawika Kelly, of Shirley, was arrested on July 16 and charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

Walter James, of Riverhead, was arrested on July 16 and charged with three counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Rosemary Hinchy Brown, of Riverhead, was arrested on July 16 and charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

Tiffany Norris, of Riverhead, was arrested on July 16 and charged with three counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Shawanna James, of Flanders, was arrested on July 16 and charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.