New Rochelle resident Ronald “Jeter” Nixon, 42, was among 12 arrested for operating the drug distribution ring in the area of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced.
Six of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and appeared in federal court on Thursday, Dec. 12. One is already in state custody and five remain at large.
“This case highlights our success in stopping those offenders who sow violence in our city’s neighborhoods,” NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said. “Working together, our mission to eradicate narcotics and illegal guns is clear and I want to commend our NYPD investigators and partners for targeting violent crime and dismantling it with precise effectiveness.”
Those charged aside from Nixon:
- Van Whitmore, 49, of Harlem;
- Barry Williams, 42, of the Bronx;
- Rodney Robinson, 44, of Harlem;
- Kaprie Lambert, 22, of Harlem;
- Ian Haylock, 24, of Harlem;
- Sharod Bell, 23, of Harlem;
- Malik Hawkins, 26, of Harlem;
- Abdoul Hanne, 27, of Harlem;
- Malik Breedlove, 23, of Harlem;
- Tyrell Murphy, 21, of Harlem;
- Anthony McDade, 28, of the Bronx.
It is alleged that the 12 men sold crack cocaine in and around the AK Houses apartment complex, at East 128th Street in Harlem. Between 2017 the present, the AK Houses Crew allegedly sold hundreds of grams of crack to customers on the streets of Harlem, and crew members carried and displayed guns to bolster their foothold in the neighborhood.
Berman said these crew members routinely sold crack in the vicinity of, among other locations, the area of the AK Houses, the Metro-North commuter rail station at East 125th Street, and Public School 30 at East 128th Street.
According to Berman, Nixon was one of the leaders of the operation, along with Whitmore, and Williams. It is alleged they obtained powder cocaine, converting the cocaine into crack, and pushing that crack to customers on the street through the Crew’s network of street-level dealers.
It is alleged that the three leaders were also in charge of discipline, including the threat of violence.
A search of Nixon’s New Rochelle home on Wednesday led to the seizure of a firearm, more than 80 grams of heroin and paraphernalia for packaging drugs for distribution.
“As alleged, the defendants were members of a Harlem crack distribution crew that peddled its wares in and around the AK Houses, the Metro-North station at 125th Street, and P.S. 30,” Berman said. “Several members are also alleged to have used guns in the plying of their illegal trade. Our thanks to the NYPD for their continued efforts to rid our neighborhoods of illegal drugs and guns.”
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