Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a seven month joint investigation with NYPD’s Bronx Narcotics Division has resulted in the arrests of sixteen alleged drug dealers, including members of four independent "drug crews" operating within the 46th Precinct. Fourteen defendants, including two juveniles, were arrested early this morning. Two others, independent cocaine dealers with no specific drug crew affiliations, were taken into custody last month. Charges will also be filed against three other defendants who currently are incarcerated on unrelated offenses.

The investigation, OPERATION GOOD NEIGHBOR, began in May, 2003 as a result of continuing complaints by residents about drug dealing in the affected area, which is bounded by Mount Hope Place on the north, by East 175th Street on the south, by Anthony Avenue on the east, and by Monroe Avenue on the west.

District Attorney Johnson said: "These arrests underscore the importance of concerned citizens coming forward to report drug activity in their community. In this case, a coordinated response by my Office and the NYPD has helped to stem the flow of illegal drugs and improve the quality of life for hard working, law abiding families."

All except two of the defendants are alleged to be affiliated with organizations identified as The 7-Up crew, The East 176th Street Crew, The 247 Mount Hope Place Crew, and The Mount Hope / Monroe Avenue Crew. During the course of the investigation undercover detectives, on numerous occasions, purchased quantities of heroin, crack-cocaine, powdered cocaine and marijuana from the defendants. The overwhelming majority of these "undercover buys" occurred within one thousand feet of a school. Some of the narcotics were packaged and sold under the brand names "7-Up" and "Bone Collector". There were also instances in which one defendant offered to sell handguns to an undercover detective, although the "sales" never occurred. In all, six undercover detectives purchased narcotics from these four crews on sixty two separate occasions between May 2003 and August, 2003.

Information that was developed during the investigation also led to the arrest last month of two independent cocaine dealers who were unaffiliated with any of the four crews targeted by investigators. Detectives purchased cocaine in powder form from that individual on four different occasions in quantities that could result in consecutive sentences of life imprisonment upon conviction.

The defendants have been charged with various drug related offenses including Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees, Criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds, Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees, and Criminal sale of marijuana in the fourth degree. Except for the independent cocaine dealers and two juveniles, the defendants are facing maximum sentences of up to twenty five years imprisonment.

Assistant District Attorneys Thomas Kapp and Aaron Kaplan are prosecuting the cases.