Crime & Safety

DA: Heroin, Prostitution Ring Busted

Suspects are slated to be indicted on Monday.

The war on drugs continues in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota announced Sunday that a Medford resident is expected indicted Monday for participation in a heroin-prostitution ring that was allegedly operating throughout Suffolk County.

The bust is the second that has taken place in recent weeks: In July, Spota held a press conference to announce that the "kingpin" behind a major drug ring that distributed cocaine across the East End .

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At the time, Spota said Robert Love, 58, of 29 Oakland Drive South, was allegedly involved in a Bronx-to-Riverhead drug ring delivering up to 3 kilos a week of powder cocaine; hidden "traps" were used to hide drugs in cars during runs, police say.

According to Spota, Love was convicted for sale and possession of cocaine in 2003 and was sentenced in 2003 to 10 years in a New York State Correctional Facility, with a release date of 2014. In 2009, Spota said, Love "convinced a parole board that he had seen the light and that he was rehabilitated. That light has quickly faded."

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Also indicted in July was Miguel Matos, 45, of Hughes Avenue in the Bronx and Matos' son-in-law, Bronx resident Radames "Ray" Melendez, 22, who Spota said acted as the "runner" or courier for the group, delivering cocaine to Love in Riverhead and collecting cash for his return to New York. 

An investigation by the East End Drug Task Force that began last November resulted in the bust; two were arraigned at Suffolk County criminal court grand jury indictments.

The D.A. announced  in February of last year, arresting close to 20 individuals. 

Spota said in July that more drug-related arrests could be expected.

In the most recent bust, Spota said Sunday that Jahiteak Appling, 21, is one of several who are scheduled to be indicted by Judge Stephen L. Braslow Monday at Suffolk County Criminal Courthouse in Riverhead. 

The ring, which the SCDA says took place in Patchogue, Medford, Coram, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Farmingville, Centereach, Selden, Middle Island and other areas, was dismantled following a long-term investigation by the SCDA's Heroin Task Force that began in June 2011.

Also being indicted are Sandra Russell, 26 of Coram, Steven Mcdaniel, 29 of Coram, Taquan Rashad, 43 of Bronx, Lee Appling, 46 of Coram, David Holmes, 51 of Coram, Jennifer Licata, 23 of Farmingville and Deborah Trezza, 22 of Coram.

According to SCDA, Russell and Mcdaniel were the ringleaders, Rashad was the supplier to Russell, Appling assisted Russell and ran a stash house, and Holmes, Licata, Appling and Trezza served as "runners" for the ring.

At a press conference Monday morning at the courthouse, the DA's office said, will be evidence including heroin, diamond necklaces, Rolex watches with price tags attached, written instructions to Russell from Mcdaniel for running a prosititution ring and cash seized by Suffolk County District Attorney's Heroin Task Force detectives will be displayed. 


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