News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, New York City News Releases, 05/21/08

News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2008
Erin Mulvey
Public Information Officer
212 337-2906

Twenty-Four Arrested On Charges of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession In Area of Bronx River Houses

MAY 21 -- MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, JOHN P. GILBRIDE, the Special Agent-In-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), ROSE GILL HEARN, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation ("DOI"), WILLIAM G. MCMAHON, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"), and JOSEPH R. GUCCIONE, the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrests of twenty-three individuals for drug trafficking crimes allegedly committed out of the Bronx River Houses -- a housing project located in the Bronx, New York. In addition, another defendant was arrested today for the possession and sale of an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle. Seven charged defendants remain at large.

Today’s takedown is the culmination of a year-long law enforcement operation led by the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), DEA, and DOI Office of the Inspector General for the New York City Housing Authority, with the assistance of the ATF and the United States Marshals Service for the Southern District of New York (“USMS”). The operation involved numerous purchases of narcotics -- specifically, crack cocaine and heroin -- made by undercover NYPD officers from drug dealers in the Bronx River Houses. In addition, one defendant is alleged to have stabbed a rival drug dealer. At the time of the arrests this morning, law enforcement authorities executed search warrants on 16 separate apartments in and around the Bronx River Houses, seizing thousands of dollars in cash, both crack cocaine and heroin, and four firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, among other things.

The defendants are charged in four separate indictments and face the following potential penalties, per count:

Count	Charge	Defendants	Potential Prison Terms
U.S. v. Spencer Jones, et al., 08 Cr. 422 United States District Judge LORETTA A. PRESKA
One	Conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of crack cocaine	SPENCER JONES, a/k/a “Speed,” MICHAEL TEMPLE, a/k/a “Wody,” STEVEN MOULTRIE, a/k/a “Little Tokyo,” CONRAD WILLIS, a/k/a “Rad,” BERNARD PARKER, a/k/a “Buster,” GREGORY MITCHELL, a/k/a “Mitch,” and HERMAN MILSA, a/k/a “Herm"	Maximum: Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 10 years' imprisonment
Two	Conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of crack cocaine	SPENCER JONES, a/k/a “Speed,” HERMAN MILSA, a/k/a “Herm,” DWAYNE HARRISON, a/k/a “Wayno,” ARTHUR WILLIAMS, a/k/a “RZ,” AZJAYE ALLEN, a/k/a “AJ,” GREGORY MITCHELL, a/k/a “Mitch,” FREDDY KINARD, DELSHAWN WALKER, a/k/a “Monkweed,” DAVON WALKER, a/k/a “Weeda,” a/k/a “D,” LEON DAVIS, JEMALL DAVIS, a/k/a “Trash,” SHAKEEMA HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Puff,” DENNIS THOMAS, a/k/a “D,” and MICHELLE DAVIS	Maximum: Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 10 years' imprisonment
Three	Conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of crack cocaine	CURTIS FRAZIER, a/k/a “Bolo,” MICHELLE DAVIS, EMMANUEL CRAIG, a/k/a “Fats,” a/k/a “E,” and MARIE CRAIG	Maximum: Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 10 years' imprisonment
Four	Conspiracy to distribute over one kilogram of heroin	AZJAYE ALLEN, a/k/a “AJ,” and EDWIN ORTIZ, SR., a/k/a “Pauley”	Maximum: Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 10 years' imprisonment
U.S. v. Edwin Ortiz, Jr., et al., 08 Cr. 421 United States District Judge LAWRENCE M. McKENNA
One	Conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of crack cocaine	EDWIN ORTIZ, JR., a/k/a “Mag,” HECTOR MUNIZ, a/k/a “Vic,” a/k/a “Hec Tec,” STEVEN ORTIZ, a/k/a “Dirty Red,” and RICHARD ORTIZ, a/k/a “Red Head Richie"	Maximum: Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 10 years' imprisonment
U.S. v. Julius Barrow, 08 Cr. 431 United States District Judge GERARD E. LYNCH
One	Conspiracy to distribute over 5 grams of crack cocaine	JULIUS BARROW	Maximum: Forty years’ imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 5 years' imprisonment
Two - Five	Sale of crack cocaine to an undercover NYPD officer	JULIUS BARROW	Maximum: Twenty years’ imprisonment
U.S. v. George Santiago, 08 Cr. 432 United States District Judge DEBORAH A. BATTS
One	Conspiracy to distribute over 5 grams of crack cocaine	GEORGE SANTIAGO, a/k/a "Jesus"	Maximum: Forty years’ imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 5 years' imprisonment
Two - Six	Sale of crack cocaine to an undercover NYPD officer	GEORGE SANTIAGO, a/k/a "Jesus"	Maximum: Twenty years’ imprisonment
U.S. v. Jaime Hernandez, 08 Cr. 430 United States District Judge RICHARD J. HOLWELL
One	Possession of an AK-47 semiautomatic assault rifle having been previously convicted of a felony	JAIME HERNANDEZ	Maximum: Ten years' imprisonment
U.S. v. Richard Hamilton, 08 Cr. 1167
One	Conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of crack cocaine	RICHARD HAMILTON, a/k/a “Little Richie”	Maximum: Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum: 10 years' imprisonment
U.S. v. Harry Frazier, 08 Mag. 1168
One	Possession with intent to distribute cocaine	HARRY FRAZIER	Maximum: Twenty years’ imprisonment

Defendants SPENCER JONES, a/k/a “Speed,” MICHAEL TEMPLE, a/k/a “Wody,” CONRAD WILLIS, a/k/a “Rad,” AZJAYE ALLEN, a/k/a “AJ,” JEMALL DAVIS, a/k/a “Trash,” CURTIS FRAZIER, a/k/a “Bolo,” and EMMANUEL CRAIG, a/k/a “Fats,” a/k/a “E,” are still at large.

Mr. GARCIA praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, DEA, DOI, ATF, and USMS.

"Today, thanks to the dedicated officers and federal agents on this case, the law-abiding citizens of the Bronx River Houses can go about their daily lives without fear of these drug dealers and their destructive influence on the community," said U.S. Attorney MICHAEL J. GARCIA.

"In partnership with both federal and county prosecutors, the New York City Police Department has persistently addressed narcotics trafficking in New York's public housing developments. They are home to tens of thousands of law-abiding citizens who have a right to public safety. This latest effort in the Bronx is part of the reason why crime has declined 30% citywide over the last six years," said Police Commissioner RAYMOND W. KELLY. "I want to commend in particular the undercover police officers who put their lives at risk, as well as the federal agents who brought their expertise to the operation. The residents of the Bronx River Houses can now say 'good riddance' to the drug dealers in their neighborhood."

"These arrests signal a united effort by law enforcement to deny sanctuary to those who sell drugs or guns," said DEA Special Agent-in-Charge JOHN P. GILBRIDE. "Residents of the Bronx River Houses deserve a safe, drug-free place to live and play, and today they are closer to that reality."

"Today's arrests will improve the quality of life for residents at the Bronx River Houses and demonstrate that there's no room for drug trafficking in City housing," said DOI Commissioner ROSE GILL HEARN. "DOI is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to root out this kind of criminal activity."

Assistant United States Attorneys LAUREN M. OUZIEL, MARGARET GARNETT, and DANIEL GOLDMAN are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###