Pubdate: Wed, 02 Apr 2014
Source: Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2014 Newsday Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308
Author: Darran Simon, With John Valenti
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been
convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or
officials.

ACCUSED HOLTSVILLE HEROIN DEALERS HELD ON BAIL

A Holtsville couple ran a heroin enterprise for at least a year out of
the home they shared with up to 10 children until it was broken last
month, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said Wednesday.

[name redacted], 27, and her husband, [name redacted], 57, ran the
drug ring from their Holtsville home, which served as the "main
distribution point" for pickups by dealers from Holbrook and at least
six other Suffolk communities, authorities said.

"They participated, they encouraged and they sold to addicts whose
lives were being destroyed . . . " Spota said at a news conference.
"They destroyed the lives of the families of these addicts, and, of
course, the people of Suffolk County were also suffering."

The couple were among 13 defendants from Long Island and one from
Brooklyn indicted last week as part of two separate heroin rings
supplying Suffolk, prosecutors said. Six others were charged in
connection with the Holtsville ring.

Amid the busy heroin operation at the home were [name redacted]'s
children -- two boys and two girls, ranging in age from 2 to 13,
authorities said. Her sister's six children -- ranging in age from 3
months to 15 years -- also lived there at least during February and
March, authorities said, adding that as many as five dealers came to
the home daily. The children were in the custody of relatives Wednesday.

The sister, [name redacted], 33, of Central Islip was arraigned
Wednesday in connection with the Holtsville ring on charges including
third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She
pleaded not guilty and was held on $500,000 cash bail, $1 million
bond. Her 3-month-old daughter was born addicted to heroin and treated
at a hospital before living with her aunt and uncle, Spota said.

When authorities broke up the ring on March 9, "there were bags of
heroin scattered about, including heroin left next to the crib of
[name redacted] and [name redacted]'s daughter," Spota said.

[name redacted], [name redacted] and [name redacted], 32, the Brooklyn
resident who allegedly supplied heroin to the couple and the smaller
operation, were arraigned Wednesday at Suffolk County Court, Riverhead.

Charges against [name redacted], [name redacted] and [name redacted]
include operating as a major trafficker, first-degree criminal
possession of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy --
all felonies in the 37-count indictment.

Each pleaded not guilty and is scheduled back in court May
9.

[name redacted] was held on $1 million cash bail, or $2 million bond.
[name redacted]'s bail was $1 million cash, or $3 million bond. [name
redacted] was held on $2.5 million cash bail, or $7.5 million secured
bond.

"We look forward to contesting any evidence they say they have against
him," said [name redacted]'s attorney, George H. Duncan.

[name redacted]'s attorney, Jonathan Manley, said his client is a
loving mother and would never hurt her children.

[name redacted]'s attorney, Lance Lazzaro, said the Brooklyn man
maintains "that he had no involvement whatsoever."

Prosecutors said the Holtsville ring moved heroin from Brooklyn into
Suffolk during a 38-day period captured on a wiretap between February
and March. Spota estimated that in a year, close to 360,000 bags of
heroin were sold at the Cherry Avenue home with a street value of more
than $3 million.

Authorities determined that during the wiretap, [name redacted] and a
co-defendant purchased 21,000 bags of heroin from [name redacted] in
Brooklyn. [name redacted] would resell the narcotics to dealers for
about $10 per bag, prosecutors said.

- - With John Valenti
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D