Two defendants charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced today that seven defendants arrested on July 14 for their alleged involvement in a heroin and cocaine ring that operated in Nassau, Suffolk and Albany counties are now facing upgraded indictment charges.
Defendants Jaymes Buckley and Michael Price are now charged with two counts each of Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony) due to evidence seized during the execution of search warrants.
On July 14, 2016, law enforcement members allegedly seized more than 700 grams of cocaine from Buckley’s residence and vehicle, and two assault rifles and two pistols from his residence. The defendant is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C felony), eight counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony), four counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony), two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor). Buckley was also charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (an A misdemeanor) because his children were present in the house.
Price was found to be in possession of more than 345 grams of cocaine and 200 grams of heroin and 120 grams of ketamine, were allegedly recovered from his home, as well as over $100,000 cash. Price is also charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (an A-II felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree (a D felony), and two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor).
A third defendant, David Ramis was allegedly in possession of more than one kilogram of cocaine seized at his home on July 14. Ramis, who allegedly supplied the other 30 defendants in the network, was additionally charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (an A-II felony), and two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor).
Dwayne Yearwood, Gregory Franks, Ronald Gilbert and Yuhura McCray, are all facing various upgraded drugs and/or weapons charges.
“These upgraded charges show that we will continue to track down, arrest, and aggressively prosecute anyone who traffics and sells heroin or cocaine on Long Island,” DA Singas said. “We are constantly sharing information with our law enforcement partners and working to break down these drug rings that are destroying our neighborhoods.”
The arrests in July were the result of a nine-month long investigation by the FBI Long Island Gang Task Force into local heroin distributors and included assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rockville Centre Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, Hempstead Police Department, Garden City Police Department, Glen Cove Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Suffolk County Department of Probation.
Assistant District Attorneys Lee Genser, Teresa Aiello, Deputy Bureau Chief Christiana McSloy, and Chief Edward Friedenthal of DA Singas’ Special Operations, Narcotics and Gangs Bureau, are prosecuting the cases.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.