More than 3.4 Kilograms of Heroin Seized with Street Value of Approximately $1 Million
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that seven people have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a heroin ring that operated in Nassau County, Queens County and Pittsburgh.
Six of the seven defendants have been arraigned on multiple charges, while the final defendant was transported from Georgia this weekend and is expected to be arraigned on sealed grand jury indictment charges today.
The ring, allegedly directed by defendant Victor McKeever in Pittsburgh, used a stash house in Kew Gardens, Queens, and sold drugs intended for Freeport in Nassau County and other locations.
Victor McKeever, 53, was arraigned last Thursday morning before Acting Supreme Court Justice Meryl Berkowitz on charges including Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (an A-II felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), two counts of Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree (a B felony) and Conspiracy in the 4th Degree (an E felony).
The defendant pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $1,000,000 bond or $500,000 cash. McKeever is due back in court on July 12. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. The defendant was arrested in December and was extradited by members of the Nassau County Police Department last week.
The arrests are the result of a four month joint investigation into heroin sales involving the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Police Department Narcotics Vice Bureau and the Drug Enforcement Administration Long Island District Office Task Force, which comprises agents and officers of the DEA, NCPD, NCDA, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Hempstead Police Department.
The investigation was assisted by members of the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor, DEA Newark, DEA Los Angeles, DEA Pittsburgh, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole and the U.S. Marshals.
“Heroin is devastating our families, communities and our country. With these arrests we stopped more than three kilograms of heroin from reaching our streets. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and use every available tool to hunt down those who peddle this deadly poison and bring them to justice,” DA Singas said.
Victor McKeever | 
Tariq A. Johnson | 
shawn G. Patterson |
Mark Mahabirshing | 
Donna Peart-Martin | 
Anthony Greer |
“Crime has no boundaries and this case is a great example of how partners in law enforcement utilized talented personnel and resources to bring this defendant to justice. This recent extradition should serve as a deterrent to criminals everywhere as we at the Nassau County Police Department are committed to working with our fellow law enforcement partners to ensure public safety,” said Acting Commissioner of Police Thomas Krumpter.
“Drug traffickers view heroin distribution as profit, while communities and law enforcement see it as pure poison. Drug law enforcement is diligently pooling resources, merging task forces and coordinating data to identify traffickers fueling opioid addiction throughout the Northeast. Today’s announcement shows our commitment to safeguarding our neighborhoods from the dangers of heroin abuse,” said James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “I commend Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas, the Nassau County Police Department, and members of the DEA and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, for their dedication to stemming the flow of heroin into our region. Effective collaboration is the key to our ability to work our way up the chain of supply and dismantle the leadership of criminal trafficking organizations that reap profits by selling this dangerous drug. We are committed to assisting our law enforcement partners throughout New York City and New York State in this important effort.”
Four defendants were arraigned on the indictment charges in January before Judge Deligatti.
Tariq Johnson, 39, of Englewood, NJ, was arraigned on January 28 on charges including Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony), Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (an A-II felony), two counts of Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree (a B felony), Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (a D felony), Conspiracy in the 4th Degree (an E felony) and two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor). Bail was set at $250,000 bond or $150,000 cash. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
Mark Mahabirsingh, 34, of Queens, NY, was arraigned on January 27 on charges including Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony), three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (an A-II felony), two counts of Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree (a B felony), three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), and Conspiracy in the 4th Degree (an E felony). Bail was set at $200,000 bond or $100,000 cash. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
Donna Martin, a/k/a/ Donna Peart-Martin, 51, of Freeport, NY, was arraigned on January 27 on charges including Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony), two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (an A-II felony), two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), two counts of Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree (a B felony), and Conspiracy in the 4th Degree (an E felony). Bail was at $250,000 bond or $125,000 cash. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
Shawn Patterson, 49, of North Charleston, SC, was arraigned on January 27 on charges including two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (an A-II felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree (a B felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (a D felony), Conspiracy in the 4th Degree (an E felony) and two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor),. Bail was set at $250,000 bond or $150,000 cash. The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
Anthony Greer, a/k/a/ Nephew, 25, of Pittsburgh, was arraigned on April 26 before Judge Deligatti on charges including Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree (an A-II felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a B felony), Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree (a B felony), and Conspiracy in the 4th Degree (an E felony). Bail was set at $100,000 bond or cash. The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
DA Singas said that McKeever allegedly directed the ring from his home in Pennsylvania, using Martin and Mahabirsingh as the local distributors of heroin.
Detectives and investigators from the various agencies followed Martin and Mahabirsingh and observed meetings between them and other members of the alleged distribution network, including Tariq Johnson, Anthony Greer and an unnamed codefendant. On November 22, this surveillance led to the seizure of approximately two kilograms of heroin that was recovered from a Mega Bus depot in Manhattan.
Greer was allegedly found in possession of two kilograms of heroin after a police dog smelled the narcotics in a backpack that was destined for Pittsburgh. Johnson, Martin and Mahabirsingh were allegedly involved in the transport of the heroin. It is estimated that the seized drugs had a street value of at least $600,000.
As the investigation continued, the network’s “stash house” was identified as an apartment in Kew Gardens, Queens. On December 9, approximately one kilogram of heroin, cutting agents, plastic wrapping and a kilogram press were recovered from the house. On the same day, Patterson was arrested in connection with this conspiracy, allegedly having approximately 400 grams of heroin in his possession.
It is estimated that approximately 3.4 kilograms of heroin, with an approximate street value of $750,000 to $1 million, was prevented from reaching the streets as a result of the investigation.
Assistant District Attorneys Brittany Gurrieri, Lauren Kalaydjian and Kristen Fexas, Deputy Bureau Chief of DA Singas’ Special Operations, Narcotics and Gangs Bureau, are prosecuting the case.
McKeever is represented by Jason Russo, Esq. Johnson is represented by Mahmoud Rabah, Esq., Mahabirsingh is represented by Robert DiDio, Esq., Martin is represented by Alex Antzoulatos, Esq., Patterson is represented by Scott Brettschneider, Esq., and Greer is represented by John Campo, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.