Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force have announced the indictment of 15 individuals in connection with an alleged drug distribution ring operating in Suffolk County.
“My Office has made it clear that gangs and drugs have no place in our communities,” District Attorney Sini said. “We will continue to target, arrest and prosecute dangerous gang members and their associates – particularly those who are peddling poison on our streets – to the fullest extent of the law. Together with our partners at the DEA and on the Long Island Heroin Task Force, we have not taken our foot off the pedal in our investigation and prosecution of these bad actors, even in the midst of a pandemic. I thank all of the law enforcement agencies involved for their work on this case and their continued partnership to keep Long Island safe from gangs.”
“This year, DEA initiated a nationwide push called Project Safeguard to address violent crime,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “Working in partnership with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the members of the Heroin Task Force, we have indicted 15 individuals on charges ranging from drug trafficking to weapons possession. This investigation exemplifies the symbiotic relationship between illegal drugs and gun violence. These arrests emphasize DEA’s commitment to reducing violent crime and reclaiming our communities from menacing drug trafficking networks and gangs.”
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, DEA and DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force began an investigation in the fall of 2019 into alleged drug dealing by several gang members and associates primarily in the Town of Brookhaven. The investigation involved the use of undercover officers, roving surveillance, electronic surveillance, and court authorized eavesdropping.
The investigation revealed that the defendants were allegedly selling a variety of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, methamphetamines and marijuana.
Pursuant to the investigation, search warrants were executed on Sept. 16 at three residential locations in Ronkonkoma, Coram and Central Islip, during which law enforcement recovered approximately 12 grams of crack cocaine, nine grams of fentanyl, 51 grams of methamphetamines, 12 grams of marijuana, and various paraphernalia consistent with drug sales, including cutting agent, packaging materials and a scale. Law enforcement also seized a loaded .22 caliber handgun, a loaded .40 caliber handgun and a loaded .38 caliber revolver from the locations.
On Sept. 29, search warrants were executed at five additional locations in connection with the investigation in Farmingville, Middle Island, Coram and Centereach. Law enforcement recovered approximately 711 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 99 grams of heroin, 109 grams of cocaine, 116 grams of crack cocaine, 18 grams of Oxycodone pills, 12 ounces of marijuana, and various paraphernalia consistent with drug sales, including a hydraulic kilo press, digital scales, and packaging materials. Law enforcement also seized a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun and a loaded Jennings .22 caliber handgun from the locations.
The defendants named in the indictment are:
- Dasheem Eubanks, 26, of Coram, is charged with four counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, an A felony; five counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony; and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony.
- William Santiago, 28, of Coram, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony; and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony.
- Davon McNair, 28, of Central Islip, is charged with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a C felony; and Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Daniel Stenson a/k/a “Profit,” 30, of Coram, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Jerry Bernard a/k/a “Trap,” 28, of Coram, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Angelo Mosquea a/k/a “Pun,” 30, of Port Jefferson Station, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Sean Benson, 37, of Middle Island, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Daniel McIntyre, 36, of Centereach, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Ivan Mosquea, 26, of Coram, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a D felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony.
- Marcus Numa, 36, of Centereach, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, an A felony; Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a B felony; and Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- David Torres, 28, of Port Jefferson, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Wayne Swedberg, 29, of Rocky Point, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Bryan Kalikow, 33, of Kings Park, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
- Michael Hionas, 32, of Port Jefferson Station, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a B felony.
An arrest warrant has been issued for one additional defendant in the indictment.
Eubanks, McNair, Stenson, Bernard and McIntyre have been identified by law enforcement as alleged members of the Bloods gang and Ivan Mosquea has been identified as an alleged member of the Latin Kings.
Angelo Mosquea and McIntyre were arraigned on the indictment today by Suffolk County Court Judge Philip Goglas. Eubanks, Santiago and McNair were arraigned on the indictment on Oct. 16 by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen. The remaining defendants were arraigned on the indictment yesterday by Judge Goglas.
If convicted of the top count, Santiago, McNair, Stenson, Angelo Mosquea, Benson, Hionas and McIntyre each face a maximum sentence of 12 and one-half to 25 years in prison. If convicted of the top count, Eubanks, Bernard, Ivan Mosquea, Numa, Torres, Swedberg and Kalikow each face a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.
The DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force comprises law enforcement agents from the DEA, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Deirdre Horney, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
