Alleged Dealer Indicted For Manslaughter In Fatal Overdose Case; Six Suspects Charged As Operating As A Major Trafficker
SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. - - A 29 year old alleged heroin dealer from Mastic described by law enforcement as a leader of the Heroin-Fentanyl drug ring dismantled by the Suffolk-Nassau task force last month pleaded not guilty today to a 10 count indictment that includes a charge of manslaughter in the second degree, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
At a news conference following the arraignment of the alleged dealer Roxy Headley Jr., District Attorney Spota said, “We have direct evidence that Headley sold the heroin and fentanyl to the North Babylon man who fatally overdosed on the morning of May 18. The Medical Examiner has reported the victim’s death was caused by the overdose of heroin and fentanyl, and at the crime scene, detectives found a needle and an empty glassine bag stamped with the word “Aleve”,” DA Spota said. During the investigation of the sources of the deadly Fentanyl-Heroin mix linked to ten overdose deaths on Long Island, task force investigators learned Headley was known to sell fentanyl-laced heroin bearing the “Aleve” stamp.
At a series of arraignments today in Riverhead, Headley and five of his codefendants arrested last month pleaded not guilty to a superseding indictment containing, among other charges, one count of Operating as a Major Trafficker, an A-1 felony that upon conviction carries a maximum prison term of 25 years to life.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has reported that drug overdoses related to fentanyl “represent a significant threat to public health and safety.”
Fentanyl is considered to be the most potent opioid available for use in medical treatment and is potentially lethal at very low levels, up to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin.
DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt stated, “Arrests can’t reverse a fatal overdose, but can send a message to dealers that the consequences of their actions will be accounted for and brought to justice. Simply put, heroin is death and DEA will continue to focus our resources on identifying and arresting drug trafficking organizations that are pushing lethal combinations of heroin and fentanyl onto our streets and into addicts’ hands.”
During the course of the investigation of the fatal and near-fatal overdoses on Long Island, investigators learned that Headley, an active member of the Bloods street gang with a prior felony drug conviction, sold a heroin-fentanyl blend or a pure fentanyl dose to heroin users for $10 a bag, or at a discounted rate to his repeat customers of $80 for 10 doses, District Attorney Spota said.
Joining District Attorney Spota at today’s news conference were Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini, Kevin Larkin, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Long Island Office of the DEA, Suffolk Police Chief of Detectives Gerard Gigante, SCPD Inspector Armando Valencia, the Commanding Officer of the Suffolk County Police Narcotics Section Detective Lieutenant Timothy Dillion, the Chief of the SCDA Narcotics Bureau Robert Ewald and Suffolk County ADA Kate Wagner of the SCDA Narcotics Bureau.
The six suspects indicted for “Operating as a Major Trafficker”, an A-1 felony -
Roxy Headley Jr. (Suffolk reseller)
Keidy Rodriguez (operated Heroin mill in Queens)
Edward (operated Heroin mill in Queens)
Melquisedec (Queens reseller)
Carlos (Suffolk reseller)
Guillermo (Suffolk reseller)
Each defendant pleaded not guilty.
The 10 charges in today’s indictment of Roxy Headley Jr. -
Manslaughter in the Second Degree
Operating as a Major Narcotics Trafficker
Conspiracy in the Second Degree
Robbery in the First Degree
Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree
Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Third Degree - Two Counts
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third (greater than ½ ounce)
Assault in the Second Degree
(Roxy Headley Jr. (DOB: 9/6/86) of Mastic Rd, Mastic Beach is also associated with a house at 184 Lincoln Avenue in Deer Park.)
