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Toddler's Fentanyl Death Leads To Manslaughter Charges For Long Island Couple Toddler's Fentanyl Death Leads To Manslaughter Charges For Long Island Couple
Toddler's Fentanyl Death Leads To Manslaughter Charges For Long Island Couple Prosecutors have filed upgraded charges of manslaughter against a Long Island couple whose toddler son died from a fentanyl overdose. Wilkens Adonis and Daryllee Leibrock, both age 38, of Holbrook, were arraigned on the new manslaughter charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, April 1. The couple is already facing dozens of drug and weapons charges in connection with the death of 14-month-old Joseph Adonis. Earlier Report: Toddler Dies From Fentanyl, Cocaine Poisoning; Holbrook Couple Hit With Dozens Of Charges According to the Suffolk County DA’s office, emergency crews were ca…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Couple's Fentanyl With 'Zombie Drug' Sold Outside Long Island Nursing Home, Feds Say Couple's Fentanyl With 'Zombie Drug' Sold Outside Long Island Nursing Home, Feds Say
Couple's Fentanyl With 'Zombie Drug' Sold Outside Long Island Nursing Home, Feds Say A Long Island couple is facing federal charges after allegedly selling enough fentanyl to potentially kill hundreds of thousands. Levar Jackson, age 44, and Jaclyn Misuraca, age 45, both of Islip Terrace, were arraigned on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Prosecutors said the pair sold nearly 270 grams of the drug in public locations across Long Island between May 2023 and January 2024. The drugs were allegedly sold in broad daylight, including in residential areas and outside of stores. Several of the transactions took plac…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Long Island Man Admits Selling Fentanyl, Cocaine While Awaiting Sentence In Separate Drug Case Long Island Man Admits Selling Fentanyl, Cocaine While Awaiting Sentence In Separate Drug Case
Long Island Man Admits Selling Fentanyl, Cocaine While Awaiting Sentence In Separate Drug Case Not even a pending prison sentence could stop this admitted dealer from selling dangerous opioids on the streets of Long Island. Randheer Shewprashad, age 25, of Patchogue, pleaded guilty to drug and weapons charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Jan. 18. Prosecutors said Shewprashad was first arrested in May 2023 after he sold fentanyl and cocaine to undercover officers on two different occasions between March and April 2023. When the Suffolk County Police Department executed a search warrant at his Patchogue home, they reportedly found cocaine and fentanyl, as well as two semi-auto…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Dealers Behind Fatal ODs Would Be Charged With Manslaughter Under NY Bill: 'This Is A Crisis' Dealers Behind Fatal ODs Would Be Charged With Manslaughter Under NY Bill: 'This Is A Crisis'
Dealers Behind Fatal ODs Would Be Charged With Manslaughter Under NY Bill: 'This Is A Crisis' Drug dealers in New York could soon face manslaughter charges for selling narcotics that result in fatal overdoses. State lawmakers are considering a bill that would make selling, delivering, or otherwise administering a controlled substance eligible for manslaughter charges if someone later dies from an overdose. Under current law, a person who provides an illicit drug that results in death can typically only be charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, a non-violent felony. Related Report: 'Gone Forever': Yonkers Mom Recounts Teen's Overdose On 'Red Table Talk' The bi…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Put Lives At Risk': Nassau County Dentist, Town Worker Charged In Opioid Prescription Scheme 'Put Lives At Risk': Nassau County Dentist, Town Worker Charged In Opioid Prescription Scheme
'Put Lives At Risk': Nassau County Dentist, Town Worker Charged In Opioid Prescription Scheme A Long Island dentist is among two people facing charges for allegedly selling opioid prescriptions to people without a medical need. Farmingdale resident Jason DiBlasi, age 49, who owns a dental office in Massapequa, was arraigned on 113 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance by a practitioner or pharmacist in Nassau County Court Friday, Nov. 18. Prosecutors said police began looking into DiBlasi’s prescribing habits while investigating a fatal overdose. Between May and September 2021, members of the Nassau County DA’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administ…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Rainbow Fentanyl' Made To Look Like Candy Being Sold To Children, DEA Warns 'Rainbow Fentanyl' Made To Look Like Candy Being Sold To Children, DEA Warns
'Rainbow Fentanyl' Made To Look Like Candy Being Sold To Children, DEA Warns Brightly-colored fentanyl made to look like candy is being sold to children and young people, the Drug Enforcement Administration warns.  The DEA and law enforcement partners seized some of the brightly-colored fentanyl in 18 states in the month of August 2022.  “Rainbow fentanyl—fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes—is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.   “The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentan…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Fugitive Had 30 Pounds Of Fentanyl In Home Next To Daycare In NY, DEA Says Fugitive Had 30 Pounds Of Fentanyl In Home Next To Daycare In NY, DEA Says
Fugitive Had 30 Pounds Of Fentanyl In Home Next To Daycare In NY, DEA Says Federal agents apprehended a 44-year-old fugitive in New York, where they say he was trafficking large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl.  Benito Bello, from Lawrence, Massachusetts, who also goes by the name Zuriel Ayala Rodriguez, was arrested in the Bronx on Wednesday, Aug. 10, the DEA said.  Agents said Bello had a kilo of cocaine and 14 kilos of the synthetic opioid inside the home where a minor child also lived.  Next to the house was a daycare that watched children as young as 6 weeks old, federal agents said.  For context, 14 kilos is more than 30 pounds of …

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by Josh Lanier
News
'Gone Forever': NY Mom Recounts Teen's Overdose On Streaming Show 'Gone Forever': NY Mom Recounts Teen's Overdose On Streaming Show
'Gone Forever': NY Mom Recounts Teen's Overdose On Streaming Show A mother from Westchester County is opening up about losing her teenage daughter to an accidental fentanyl overdose. Despina Prodromidis, of Yonkers, recently sat down with actress Jada Pinkett Smith on her streaming show, Red Table Talk, for an episode centered around the national fentanyl epidemic. (View a clip of the segment below) Through tears, Prodromidis recounted the unimaginable moment on Easter 2021 when doctors informed her that her 15-year-old daughter, Olivia Green, had died after taking a counterfeit Percocet. "I was like, 'Is Olivia okay?' and they just put their heads dow…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Hempstead Man Sentenced For Role In Major Drug Trafficking Ring Hempstead Man Sentenced For Role In Major Drug Trafficking Ring
Hempstead Man Sentenced For Role In Major Drug Trafficking Ring A 43-year-old Long Island man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to 39 separate charges for his role in a drug trafficking ring. Able McTootle, of Hempstead, was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by five years' post-release supervision on Thursday, April 28, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. Donnelly said McTootle pleaded guilty to the charges on Wednesday, March 30, which included: Operating as a major narcotics trafficker  First-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance  First-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Seco…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Ex-Nassau Doctor Sentenced For Conspiring To Illegally Distribute Oxycodone Ex-Nassau Doctor Sentenced For Conspiring To Illegally Distribute Oxycodone
Ex-Nassau Doctor Sentenced For Conspiring To Illegally Distribute Oxycodone A former New York doctor was sentenced for illegally prescribing thousands of oxycodone pills to two people. Long Island resident Tameshwar Ammar, age 53, of Amityville, was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 7, to five years in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute oxycodone, according to Jacquelyn Kasulis, acting United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He also agreed to forfeit $245,700 in criminal proceeds. Kasulis said Ammar pleaded guilty to the charge in July of 2020. He relinquished his license to practice medicine in June of that year. He had been practic…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Nassau County Man Sentenced For MS-13 Murder Of 18-Year-Old At Park Nassau County Man Sentenced For MS-13 Murder Of 18-Year-Old At Park
Nassau County Man Sentenced For MS-13 Murder Of 18-Year-Old At Park A 20-year-old man has been sentenced for his role in the MS-13 murder of an 18-year-old at a Long Island park in 2016. Samuel Ponce, of Hempstead, was sentenced to nine years to life in prison for killing Bryan Steven Cho Lemus, of Uniondale, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith announced. Ponce pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday, June 28. On Aug. 23 of 2016, Lemus was lured into the Massapequa Park Preserve, where he was killed with machetes by Ponce and other MS-13 members, Smith said. The DA's Office reported that Lemus' body was found by officers in a shall…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Fifth Man Pleads Guilty On Long Island To $2M Scheme Impersonating Federal Employees Fifth Man Pleads Guilty On Long Island To $2M Scheme Impersonating Federal Employees
Fifth Man Pleads Guilty On Long Island To $2M Scheme Impersonating Federal Employees An Indian national became the fifth person to plead guilty in federal court on Long Island to federal charges for his role in running a multi-million dollar transnational fraud scheme. Ajay Sharma, a citizen of India who served as the director and owner of APS Technology, a telemarketing call center located in New Delhi, pleaded guilty this week in Central Islip federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a fraudulent scheme targeting thousands of Americans. Four of Sharma’s co-conspirators - Bellrose resident Ankur Sharma, Queens Village resident Harpreet Singh, Hu…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Man Arrested For Allegedly Using Doctor's Pad To Obtain Opioids, DA Says Long Island Man Arrested For Allegedly Using Doctor's Pad To Obtain Opioids, DA Says
Long Island Man Arrested For Allegedly Using Doctor's Pad To Obtain Opioids, DA Says A Long Island man is facing charges for allegedly using a former doctor’s prescription pad to obtain more than 13,000 opioid pills, the District Attorney’s Office announced. Valley Stream resident James Cosentino, 27, was arrested and arraigned on Friday, Nov. 13 on charges alleging that he illegally used the prescription pad to obtain thousands of oxycodone and morphine pills over a nine-month stretch. Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that Cosentino allegedly acquired a prescription pad from a former doctor. From December last year through September, Cosentino alleged…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Purdue Pharma Admits To Crimes, Facing Billions In Fines For Opioid Crisis Purdue Pharma Admits To Crimes, Facing Billions In Fines For Opioid Crisis
Purdue Pharma Admits To Crimes, Facing Billions In Fines For Opioid Crisis Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, has agreed to pay billions of dollars in fines and will plead guilty to federal criminal charges for its role in the nation’s opioid crisis. The Fairfield County-based Connecticut company agreed to plead guilty in federal court in New Jersey to a three-count indictment that includes one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. As part of the agreement, Purdue Pharma, whose headquarters is in Stamford, will…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island MS-13 Clique Leader Known As 'Risky' Sentenced For Murder, Conspiracy Long Island MS-13 Clique Leader Known As 'Risky' Sentenced For Murder, Conspiracy
Long Island MS-13 Clique Leader Known As 'Risky' Sentenced For Murder, Conspiracy A  Long Island MS-13 gang leader with a fitting alias may spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced for his role in murders and conspiracy, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Wyandanch resident David Sosa-Guevara - also known as “Risky” - has been sentenced to 24 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.  Singas said that Sosa-Guevara, 28, was the head of the Hollywood Clique of MS-13 on Long Island and directed its members to …

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by Zak Failla
News
NY DEA Investigator From Queens Tried To Entice Boy To Have Sex, Feds Say NY DEA Investigator From Queens Tried To Entice Boy To Have Sex, Feds Say
NY DEA Investigator From Queens Tried To Entice Boy To Have Sex, Feds Say A former Drug Enforcement Administration investigator is facing charges for allegedly attempting to use child pornography to entice a minor to have sex with him. Frederick Scheinin, 29, of Sunnyside, Queens, was arrested and charged with one count of attempted production of child pornography, and one count of attempted enticement of a minor after attempting to lure his alleged victim with child porn. It is alleged that between October last year and January, Scheinin attempted to produce child pornography and entice a minor to have sex.  Scheinin was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 16 a…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Drug Ring Leader Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl After Massive Bust Long Island Drug Ring Leader Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl After Massive Bust
Long Island Drug Ring Leader Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl After Massive Bust The leader of a Long Island drug ring will spend more than a decade behind bars after being busted for his role in selling cocaine and fentanyl in one of the biggest police drug seizures in history, authorities announced. Ricky Jackson, 41, of Hempstead, was sentenced to a term of 15 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision after pleading guilty last month to criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony. Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that beginning in April last year, in an effort to curb drug and gun-related violence in Hempstead, her Offi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Man Indicted For Allegedly Causing Overdose Death Long Island Man Indicted For Allegedly Causing Overdose Death
Long Island Man Indicted For Allegedly Causing Overdose Death An alleged drug on Long Island is facing life in prison after being charged for allegedly selling the fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose. Selden resident Marlon Thompson was charged in federal court in Central Islip with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and heroin from April 2018 through May 2019, and distribution of a controlled substance containing fentanyl resulting in the fatal overdose of a Fredrick Koenig on Dec. 26 last year.   U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that Thompson, 38, had previously been detained on state charges and is now in federal custody. He was ordere…

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by Zak Failla
News
High-Ranking Long Island MS-13 Lieutenant Admits To Murdering Teen, DA Announces High-Ranking Long Island MS-13 Lieutenant Admits To Murdering Teen, DA Announces
High-Ranking Long Island MS-13 Lieutenant Admits To Murdering Teen, DA Announces Another high-ranking member of the MS-13 street gang on Long Island admitted to his role in the 2017 murder of a 15-year-old in Roosevelt, the Nassau County District Attorney Announced. Roosevelt resident Victor Lopez, 31, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy for his role in the murder of 15-year-old Angel Soler in July 2017, DA Madeline Singas announced. When he is sentenced on Jan. 23 next year, Lopez is expected to be sentenced to a term of between 23 years to life in prison. Singas said that Lopez was a high-ranking lieutenant in MS-13’s Hollywood Clique…

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by Zak Failla
News
MS-13 Leader Of Long Island Hollywood Clique Admits To Murder, Conspiracy MS-13 Leader Of Long Island Hollywood Clique Admits To Murder, Conspiracy
MS-13 Leader Of Long Island Hollywood Clique Admits To Murder, Conspiracy An MS-13 gang leader on Long Island may spend the rest of his life in prison after admitting to his role in murders and conspiracy, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Wyandanch resident David Sosa-Guevara - also known as “Risky” - pleaded guilty this week to second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. He is expected to be sentenced to a term of 24 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 24 next year. Singas said that Sosa-Guevara, 28, was the head of the Hollywood Clique of MS-13 on Long Island and direct…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Doctor Charged With Illegally Prescribing Opioids Long Island Doctor Charged With Illegally Prescribing Opioids
Long Island Doctor Charged With Illegally Prescribing Opioids A 74-year-old doctor has been arraigned on a 54-count indictment charging him with allegedly selling opioids and amphetamine prescriptions on Long Island. A lengthy investigation into several opioid overdoses last year led to the arrest of George Blatti, a doctor in Rockville Centre who allegedly prescribed opioids to patients without examining them. The investigation into Blatti determined that some of his patients had an inordinate number of prescriptions for opioids that were written by Blatti,  a general practitioner originally licensed to practice medicine in 1976, who had no spec…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Brothers, Queens Man Led $2M International Fraud Ring, Feds Say Long Island Brothers, Queens Man Led $2M International Fraud Ring, Feds Say
Long Island Brothers, Queens Man Led $2M International Fraud Ring, Feds Say Two brothers from Long Island and a man in Queens are facing charges for allegedly running a multi-million-dollar scheme by impersonating federal employees. Huntington residents Kamil Zafar, 51, Jamal Zafar, 48, and College Point resident Armughanul Asar, 68, were charged in Central Islip federal court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money in furtherance of their fraudulent scheme directed at thousands of individuals in the United States. United States Attorney Richard Donoghue said that the three were arrested on Monday, Aug. 26 and are scheduled to be arraig…

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by Zak Failla
News
Don't Fall For It: Police Warn Of Extortion Scam Don't Fall For It: Police Warn Of Extortion Scam
Don't Fall For It: Police Warn Of Extortion Scam A new scam is making the rounds, prompting police agencies in the area to issue an alert from scammers attempting to extort doctors. Using spoofed phone numbers that make the call appear to come from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s medical offices, scammers have been targeting medical offices and officials, police said. Police said that some of the callers have spoken broken English and have been threatening to revoke doctors’ licenses and block their ability to prescribe drugs if they don’t comply with extortion requests. The DEA has confirmed that the calls are scams and doctors sho…

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by Zak Failla