Federal agents dismantle a heroin trafficking organization and arrest 36, including a New York state corrections officer
NEW YORK — Federal agents arrested 36 drug users, traffickers, Bloods gang members, and a New York state corrections officer at Riker’s Island Wednesday. The arrest follows a two year investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA), The New York Police Department (NYPD), Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Kamel Lambus, 32, Stanley Fuller, 40, Covel Duncan, 30, Shavona Trappier, 25, Shakeem Powell, 26, Tyran Trotter, 20, Henry Curry, 26, Sean Brabram, 46, Tiheem Crocker, 20, Scott Williams, 30, Earl Davis, 50, Michael Scott, 45, and Andre Mitchell, 28, all from Queens, New York and others, allegedly conspired to distribute over a kilogram of heroin.
Lambus and Fuller are allegedly leaders of a sect of the Bloods gang called the Paper Chasing Goons (PCG) or POV City, and used a network of distributors, some of whom are also members of PCG/POV City, to sell hundreds of glassines of heroin daily to customers throughout Queens and elsewhere. The glassines were marked with labels including “Sweet Dreams,” “First Take,” “Pepsi,” and “Coca Cola.”
“Today’s arrests help dismantle a violent gang responsible for flooding the streets of New York with heroin,” said Raymond R. Parmer, Jr. special agent in charge HSI New York. “Working alongside our law enforcement partners, HSI will continue to use its unique authorities to ensure gangs and their members are brought to justice.”
“Members of street gangs who distribute heroin are on notice that they will be held strictly accountable for their actions,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kelly T. Currie. “We and our partners in law enforcement are committed to ending the scourge of illegal narcotics in our communities,”
“These alleged gang members were distributing heroin with brand names such as “Sweet Dreams,” “Pepsi,” and “Coca Cola” – three things that appeal to America’s youth,” stated James J. Hunt, special agent in charge DEA New York. “The CDC reported the heroin death rate has quadrupled in a decade, and today’s collaborative efforts demonstrate law enforcement’s commitment to arresting those responsible for trafficking heroin which ultimately opens the door to increased heroin abuse, addiction, crime, and violence.”
“This investigation is an example of multiple law enforcement agencies working together toward a common objective, which is to protect our communities from individuals who would compromise the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods through the trafficking of illegal narcotics,” said New York Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. “I would like to thank the NYPD Gang Squad Queens and our many law enforcement partners whose work in this investigation resulted in the charges and arrests of these alleged gang members.”
“The ATF is grateful to the United States Attorney’s Office as well as our law enforcement partners for their assistance and investigative expertise in dismantling what once was allegedly a structured and organized heroin ring. The arrests of these alleged gang members will hopefully create a ripple effect inside their ranks and remind them that when they decide to engage in narcotics trafficking, the full weight of law enforcement will be there at every turn,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid.
“IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to work with our partner law enforcement agencies in the investigation of crimes that directly impact our communities, including narcotics, illegal firearms, and gang activities. We are always ready to apply our expertise to the financial aspects of investigations of criminal organizations,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $10 million fine.
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