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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 24, 2009

CONTACT:
Magda Gandasegui, Director of Public Information
mgandasegui@specnarc.org
(212) 815-0525

Paul Browne
Deputy Commissioner Public Information
NYC Police Department
646-610-6700

 
12 CHARGED IN BROOKLYN CRACK SALES RING

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced today the indictments of 12 members of the “East 21st Street Crew”. Eight were arrested in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, by the New York City Police Department Narcotics Division Brooklyn South Major Case Squad team. Four defendants are currently in custody on other matters, and their arraignment has been scheduled for the first week of October.

Charges in the indictment unsealed today stem from 171 undercover crack/cocaine sales totaling $10,460 since May of 2007, including sales that took place inside Star USA, a variety store at 1216 Flatbush Avenue. The East Flatbush crack business extended from Foster Avenue to Dorchester Road and from Ocean Avenue to Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.

Narcotics dealing in the area had become a focus of law enforcement in response to community complaints and shootings in the vicinity. Most recently on August 31, 2009, Anthony Lawrence, among those arrested on Tuesday, was shot inside his residence at 585 East 21st Street, #3B, near the site of dozens of undercover crack purchases. The investigation into that shooting is ongoing.

Beginning May 2007, the defendants sold to undercover officers quantities of crack ranging from 2 to 12 plastic packages (twists) up to multiple grams of crack.  Nine of the defendants were indicted on Conspiracy, and all were charged with B-felony crack/cocaine sales. In addition to Lawrence’s residence, search operations were conducted at five other nearby locations.

The 25-month long investigation identified two other drug organizations that operated in the same vicinity and resulted in previous arrests. In March, 2009, Chris Roman, a wholesale distributor of heroin in New York City and Nassau County was indicted along with his brothers, Diomedes (Metro) Roman and Jesus (Pharo) Roman, Joel Santiago and other associates. Months after the Roman takedown, members of another crack operation, also in the East Flatbush neighborhood, were indicted for narcotics sales. Tuesday’s arrests brought to 75 the total number of individuals arrested and indicted during the length of “Operation Spinal Tap.” 

Arraignments are scheduled for September 24, 2009 in front of Judge Patricia Nunez at 111 Centre Street, Room 928. 

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.