New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan announced today that 50-year old Tony Younge has been indicted for selling cocaine to customers from a bar stool at TGI Fridays at 47 Broadway in the Financial District in Manhattan. The defendant was charged with sixteen B felony sales of cocaine, one count of criminal possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and one count of criminal possession of cocaine over one-eight of an ounce. A four month long investigation conducted jointly with New York City Police Department’s Manhattan South Major Case Squad culminated in Younge’s arrest Friday, March 6, 2009 at the restaurant. Younge was charged with selling cocaine to undercover officers on twelve occasions and to other customers four times.  The TGIF was shut down after the arrests. 

During surveillance inside the location police observed transactions between Younge and customers purchasing cocaine quantities ranging from $20 to $180, who appeared to work in the financial district. The restaurant’s marijuana source, 48-year old Alvin James, was also indicted yesterday on three misdemeanor counts of Criminal Sale of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree. T.G.I. Friday’s was padlocked last Friday night under the nuisance abatement law after police recovered 15 ziplock bags of cocaine, marijuana, and arrested four individual buyers who were also charged. 

Bail for Younge, was set for at $25,000 cash/bond. Bail for James was set for at $2,500 cash/bond.  If convicted, Younge faces a minimum of three and a half years prison sentence. He will be arraigned on the indictment on April 15, 2009 in Part 22. James faces no minimum jail penalty.

Defendants retain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.