MEMBERS OF PARKCHESTER AREA DRUG RING INDICTED FOLLOWING TEN MONTH UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury has indicted more than two dozen alleged members of a major narcotics distribution ring operating in the Parkchester section of the Bronx.  The ring engaged in both street level and wholesale drug sales totaling an estimated $140,000 a week.

The 177 count indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the NYPD’s Bronx Narcotics Division and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and charges 31 individuals with conspiracy to traffic in heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.  The charges include Conspiracy in the 2nd and 4th degrees, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd degree, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in or near School Grounds, Petit Larceny, and Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd degree. The top charge in the indictment,  Conspiracy in the 2nd degree, is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment. 

The ten month investigation began last February and involved a total of 57 illegal drug sales to undercover detectives in transactions ranging from as low as $100 to as high as $2,400. Some of these undercover “buys” occurred on the streets of Parkchester and others occurred in cars, often in close proximity to school buildings. 

Detectives armed with 31 arrest warrants and 9 search warrants began shutting down the organization before dawn last Wednesday  December 4, 2007.  As of today 17 individuals named in the indictment are in custody.  Eleven others are still being sought and three of the 31 people indicted are unknown and identified only as John or Jane Doe. Detectives arrested  three other unindicted individuals who were present at locations where search warrants were executed.

A search warrant executed at 2130 East Tremont Avenue, the organization’s alleged stash house, resulted in the recovery of three loaded firearms, a 25 caliber pistol, a sawed off shotgun, and a semi-automatic rifle with scope.  Detectives also recovered over 500 rounds of ammunition, a bullet proof vest, crack cocaine in dozens of zip lock bags, and $2,000 in cash, as well as scales, sifters and packaging materials.  Smaller quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana were recovered at two other locations.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christiana Stover and Adam Oustacher of the Gangs / Major Case Bureau.