Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York Bridget G. Brennan, Special Narcotics Prosecutor

80 CENTRE STREET, SIXTH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10013 212-815-0400, GEN. 212-815-0440, FAX

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, June 29, 2007
Magda Gandasegui, Director of Public Information
mgandasegui@specnarc.org
(212) 815-0525

35 INDICTED FOR DRUG DEALING AT NOBLE DREW ALI HOUSING COMPLEX

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan today announced arrests and indictments of 35 individuals, 12 of whom were arrested this past Wednesday, involved in narcotics trafficking at Noble Drew Ali Housing complex in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. The arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the New York Police Department and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development targeting trafficking activity in the complex.

The defendants, who range in age from 15 years old to 47, controlled over 20 apartments at Noble Drew Ali, and sold heroin and cocaine on a daily basis. During the year long investigation, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, a sawed off shotgun, .38 caliber handgun, .50 caliber handgun, 9mm Glock, dozens of rounds of ammunition and a bullet proof vest were seized. Officers also discovered that the complex’s inner courtyard was being used for pit bull fights. The dogs were also used to intimidate legitimate residents of the complex and to maintain security for the drug operation.

Those arrested include:

• Michael Watson, of 1317 Decatur Street in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, alleged to be the overall supplier of heroin to the Noble Drew Ali Housing complex;
• Musa Johnson, Sr., charged with overseeing narcotics sales at Noble Drew Ali;
• Musa Johnson, Jr., Johnson Sr.’s son charged with Conspiracy in the First Degree and narcotics possession;
• Charell Smith, Johnson Sr.’s daughter also charged with Conspiracy in the First Degree and narcotics possession;
• Sakaur Mason, charged with narcotics crimes, additionally charged with Assault in the First Degree in connection with a November 25, 2006 shooting at 250 Lott Avenue in the Noble Drew Ali Complex as a result of a dispute with other members of the operation.
• Devere Leggett, charged with possessing over 200 glassines of heroin. Leggett is additionally charged with Arson in the Second Degree resulting from an incident on January 31, 2007 in 230 Lott Avenue, where the defendant is alleged to have set an apartment used for storing drugs on fire after a dispute with other dealers in the complex.