Law enforcement officials announced Wednesday that it seized 400 grams of almost pure fentanyl from an apartment in Hempstead – the largest seizure of fentanyl in Nassau County history.
Five hundred grams of cocaine was also seized, along with eight firearms.
Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said the seizure was the result of a six-month investigation that resulted in 11 indictments – nine of them have been arrested. She says the ringleader of the operation was Ricky Jackson, an inmate at a federal prison in Massachusetts.
According to federal court records, Jackson, of Hempstead, is a member of the "Imperial Gangsta Bloods" and is currently serving a 23-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2015 to selling large amounts of heroin to fellow Bloods members in Virginia.
According to Singas, Jackson directed his business partner Darren Devane and girlfriend Angelique White – who works as a Hempstead schools janitor – to take possession of what was believed to be 100 grams of heroin stored in White’s apartment.
The DA says investigators and members of the FBI Long Island Gang Task Force seized the 100 grams from White and searched her apartment the next day, as well was an additional 300 grams of a white powdery substance originally believed to be heroin. Testing later revealed that it allegedly was “nearly pure fentanyl.”
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According to Singas, the fentanyl seizure – valued at more than $130,000 – represents 150,000 potentially fatal overdoses. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2 milligrams of fentanyl is fatal in most adults.
Singas' office released the names and charges for those in the indictment:
Darren Devane, aka Buck, 33, of Hempstead was arraigned October 25 before Judge Tammy Robbins and charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (an A-II felony), nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony), Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony), Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a B felony) and three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). Bail was set at $200,000 bond or $100,000 cash and the defendant is due back in court November 1. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of 12 years to 24 years in prison.
Michael Drew, 39, of Hempstead, was arraigned October 31 before Judge Terence Murphy and 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 three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). Bail was set at $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash and the defendant is due back in court November 21. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of 8-1/3years to 25 years in prison.
Trevor Ford, 28, of Hempstead, was arraigned October 28 before Judge Howard Sturim and charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a B felony) and three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). The defendant was remanded and is due back in court November 6. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of 12-1/2 years to 25 years in prison.
Ricky Jackson, 41, of Hempstead, was arraigned November 4 before Judge Terence Murphy and charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a B felony) and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). The defendant was remanded is due back in court December 9. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.
Jamel Lewis, 39, of Hempstead, was arraigned on November 4 before Judge Terence Murphy and 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 three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). He was remanded and is due back in court on November 25. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of 12 years to 24 years in prison. Additionally, this defendant was arraigned on October 29 before Judge Massell on one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony). Bail was set at $600,000 bond or $300,000 cash, and the defendant is due back in court on November 16. If convicted of this count, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Shariah Usher, 28, of Hempstead, was arraigned on October 25 before Judge Tammy Robbins on charges of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), 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 two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). The defendant was conditionally released to probation and is due back in court November 1. If convicted of the top count, she faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Angelique White, 40, of Hempstead was arraigned on October 30 before Judge Terence Murphy on charges of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), 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 two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). Bail was set at $40,000 bond or $20,000 cash and she is due back in court December 5. If convicted of the top count, she faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Joseph Robertson, 36, of Brooklyn was arraigned on November 1 before Judge Meryl Berkowitz on charges of two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C felony), four counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm (a D felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony). Bail was set at $5,000 cash or bond and the defendant is due back in court December 5. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Victor Cain, 30, of Brooklyn was arraigned October 30 before Judge Meryl Berkowitz on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony), two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm (a D felony) and Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony). Bail was set at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash and the defendant is due back in court December 5. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum of seven years to 15 years in prison.
Two defendants remain outstanding.
