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An investigation was launched by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department in December last year into the alleged trafficking of drugs in western Suffolk County.
The investigation determined that Daniel Ayala, of Babylon, along with his co-conspirators, allegedly trafficked “significant quantities of narcotics into Suffolk County, including crack and powder cocaine and heroin."
Jason Brewton, of Patchogue; Jose Guzman, of Ronkonkoma; and Fennelly Olivares, of Babylon, are also alleged major drug traffickers facing charges.
The alleged drug distribution ring operated primarily in communities along the south shore, from Babylon to Mastic.
Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini noted that the investigation included court-authorized eavesdropping, physical surveillance, and video surveillance.
As part of the operation, Ayala is alleged to have employed two heroin addicts to act as quality control testers for the drugs he planned on purchasing, providing them with samples of the heroin before purchasing large quantities for distribution. Ayala is also alleged to have operated a drug mill, on Plume Court in Bay Shore, where he and his co-conspirators allegedly packaged heroin and cocaine for resale.
Investigators executed search warrants at one location on June 11 and five others two days later on June 13. During the raids, three and a half kilograms of cocaine and heroin were seized, as well as seven illegal weapons, three of which were defaced. A hydraulic kilo press, $83,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia was also seized.
“This is a unique case in that the entire network, including four major traffickers, were all operating within Suffolk County,” Sini said. “This was a widespread network of major traffickers and street-level drug dealers, and with today’s indictment, we have disrupted that operation. We took dangerous drug dealers off the street who were selling dangerous drugs and in possession of dangerous weapons.
“When there are drug dealers, there are drugs and there are guns. This poses a threat not only to the general public, it poses a threat to law enforcement. Each time our detectives and police officers, especially the Police Department’s Emergency Service Section, kick down a door and execute a search warrant, they put their lives at risk.”
Those charged were:
- Anthony Alvarado, 35, of Brentwood, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Daniel Ayala, 37, of Babylon, is charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree;
- Daniel Beaudrot, 35, of Lindenhurst, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Erin Blake, 27, of East Patchogue, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- William Bootz, 28, of Kings Park, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Jason Brewton, 38, of Patchogue, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree;
- Shaina Eisenberg, 23, of Farmingdale, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree; two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree;
- Gerard Esposito, 30, of Bay Shore, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Justin Giese, 32, of Middle Island, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Jose Guzman, 43, of Ronkonkoma, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree;
- Jason Hornedo, 42, of Central Islip, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Henry Jackson, 53, of Central Islip, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree;
- Joseph Martinez, 27, of Bay Shore, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Gary Morrow, 36, of Bay Shore, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Fennelly Olivares, 40, of Babylon, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree;
- Vincent Tappen, 39, of Deer Park, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
- Two additional co-conspirators are scheduled to be arraigned at a later date.
The maximum sentence for criminal possession of a controlled substance is up to 20 years in prison. The maximum sentence for second-degree conspiracy is eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said, “a case like this shows the callous nature of narcotics dealers considering one of the suspects preyed upon the addicted by having them test the narcotics before he would make an investment in large quantities. We will continue to collaborate with the District Attorney’s Office to halt the spread of narcotics which hurts the addicted and their families.”
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