Assault Rifles and Heroin: Mahopac Couple Accused

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that a man and a woman have been arrested on drugs and weapons charges in the Mahopac section of Carmel.

The arrests were the result of a two-month-long investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit.

The pair arrested are Maheer Issa Jamal, 27, and Liridona Krasniqi, 24, who police said reside together at 254 Wixon Pond Road in Mahopac. They were arrested at about 4 A.M. Friday after officers armed with arrest warrants pulled over the car they were travelling in along Wixon Pond Road near their home.

According to the criminal complaints in the case, Jamal is alleged to have sold heroin to an undercover sheriff’s deputy on three occasions over the last two months. Police said drug sales were transacted at the front door of the suspects’ home while Krasniqi was present.

During the course of the investigation, the NEU developed information that the couple had an arsenal of loaded firearms inside the house.

With the assistance of the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, the NEU obtained a court-ordered search warrant for the home, which was executed immediately after the suspects were taken into custody.

That search netted over 100 bags of heroin, a number of prescription pain-killer pills and concentrated cannabis. The drugs have an estimated street value of $3,000-$4,000. Over $1,500 in cash was also recovered in the home.

Also found inside the suspects’ cottage were two assault-style rifles with high-capacity magazines and two 12-gauge shotguns. One of the rifles and one of the shotguns were found loaded. A supply of ammunition for all the weapons was also recovered.

Jamal was charged with the following drug offenses: three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, class B felonies; three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, class B felonies; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a class C felony; three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, class D felonies; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of criminal possession of marihuana in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Krasniqi was charged with the following drug offenses: one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a class C felony; three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, class D felonies; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of criminal possession of marihuana in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Both were also charged with the following weapons offenses: two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, class D felonies, for the assault rifles; and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, class D felonies, for the high-capacity magazines.

They were arraigned before Judge Thomas Jacobellis of the Town of Carmel Justice Court. The court set bail for Jamal in the amount of $50,000 cash or $50,000 bail bond. Bail for Krasniqi was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond. Both were sent to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.

If convicted on all counts of the most serious charges, they could face up to 27 years in prison.

In the investigation leading up to the arrests, the Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Carmel, Kent and Peekskill Police Departments and from the Westchester County Department of Public Safety. The Putnam County Emergency Response Team and members of the Carmel and Kent Police Departments assisted at the scene of the arrests. The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services and Mahopac Volunteer Ambulance Corps had medical first responders on standby in connection with the arrest and search warrant operation.