5 Indicted On Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack Trafficking Charges: DOJ

RIVERHEAD, NY — Five people were indicted Thursday on drug trafficking charges, including the sale of heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine, in the Riverhead area, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

An indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging Robert Quarles, also known as "Black," 43, of Mastic; Charles Scruggs, also known as "Chuck," 31, of Riverhead; Michael Steketee, 41, of Flanders; and Deena Colgan, 47, of Riverhead with conspiring to distribute the drugs; Quarles, Scruggs and Steketee were arrested Thursday morning and were arraigned Thursday afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay, where they were ordered detained, according to Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

A related criminal complaint was also filed charging Tyrone Ligon, 49, of Southampton, with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin and fentanyl; Ligon was arrested Thursday morning and was also ordered detained by Magistrate Judge Lindsay at his arraignment Thursday afternoon, the U.S. DOJ said.

Colgan is in custody and will be arraigned on April 2, the U.S. DOJ said.

Donoghue and William F. Sweeney, Jr., assistant director-in-charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York field office, announced the charges.

“As alleged, the defendants sold dangerous drugs with no regard for the harm caused to the users or residents of the community,” Donoghue said. “This office and our law enforcement partners at the FBI and the East End Drug Task Force will continue to tirelessly investigate and prosecute individuals who contribute to the opioid epidemic.”

“These dealers who allegedly trafficked in deadly illegal drugs don’t see the destruction left in their wake, they only see the money they make from pushing and selling," Sweeney said. "The opioid deaths in our community and our country get worse each day, but the FBI Long Island Gang Task Force and our law enforcement partners won’t stop investigating and arresting all the dealers we can to keep more people from dying.”

Between January 2018 and March 2019, those charged were involved in a conspiracy to distribute several controlled substances, including over one kilogram of heroin, 40 grams of fentanyl, and crack cocaine, the U.S. DOJ said.

At the time of his arrest, Quarles was found in possession of distribution quantities of crack cocaine and heroin; Ligon was also found in possession of narcotics when he was taken into custody, Donoghue said.

If convicted, Colgan, Quarles, Scruggs and Steketee face up to life imprisonment; Ligon faces up to 20 years in prison, Donoghue said.