United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK CITY. –   Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, today announced the prison sentence of Terry Barbour in connection with the possession of more than 18 kilograms of narcotics, including fentanyl and heroin, and seven semi-automatic guns. Barbour previously pleaded guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He was sentenced to 12 years in state prison and 5 years of post-release supervision.

“Increasingly, trafficking in deadly fentanyl and gun possession are linked,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan. “Gun seizures in cases overseen by my office rose by 150% in recent years. Fatal overdoses are at record high levels in New York City, with a death occurring every 3 hours. Those involved in the distribution of deadly narcotics and the possession of guns will continue to face significant penalties.”

Barbour was arrested during a long-term investigation by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), Group T-31, comprised of agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Department (NYPD) detectives and New York State Police investigators. The investigation ran from approximately May of 2020 to March of 2021.

In total, members of NYDETF Group T-31 recovered approximately 18 kilograms of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine (40 pounds), carrying an estimated street value of $4 million. The majority of the narcotics were found inside bags in a vehicle in Queens on December 15, 2020, as were two guns, including an AK 47. A co-defendant of Barbour’s was driving the vehicle. Prior to this seizure, agents and officers conducted surveillance on a heroin and fentanyl packaging mill at 94-04 80th Street, Apt. 1 in Ozone Park and observed Barbour and this other man entering and exiting the building, sometimes carrying bags.

Agents and officers arrested Barbour on a felony warrant in Bushwick, Brooklyn on January 7, 2021. A subsequent court-authorized search of a Brooklyn storage unit, on January 22, 2021, resulted in the seizure of five semi-automatic guns, including three MAC-11 submachine guns, and magazines and ammunition for all of the guns. Also present in the unit, located at 486 Stanley Avenue, Unit 2839, were a bulletproof vest, a gun cleaning kit and documents bearing Barbour’s name.

Members of NYDETF Group T-31 obtained security footage from the storage facility. A review of footage from December 29, 2020 (two weeks after the seizure of 18 kilograms of narcotics) showed two individuals appearing to be Barbour and a female co-defendant remove three large duffel bags from the storage unit.

Assistant District Attorney Quentin Morgan handled the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Andres Torres, Co-Chief of the Special Investigations Bureau. Assisting with the prosecution were Investigative Analyst Joy Brescia and Gregory Wilson, Victor Roman and J. Patrick Slattery of the Digital Forensics and Litigation Unit.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan thanked Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and commended the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, including members of the DEA New York Division, the New York State Police and the New York City Police Department, for their work on the case.