Office of the
Special Narcotics Prosecutor
for the City of New York

Bridget G. Brennan, Special Narcotics Prosecutor 		80 CENTRE STREET, SIXTH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10013
212-815-0400, GEN.
212-815-0440, FAX

Press Release
Friday, December 15, 2006
Magda Gandasegui, Director of Public Information
mgandasegui@specnarc.org
(212) 815-0525

NEW YORK CITY SPECIAL NARCOTICS PROSECUTOR BRIDGET G. BRENNAN ANNOUNCES THE BREAK UP OF GANG SELLING DRUGS OUT OF THE DYCKMAN STREET MARINA

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan announced today the indictment of 9 individuals involved in a large-scale narcotics operation run out of the Dyckman Street Boat and Marina. Among those indicted is Jerome O’Rourke, a retired police officer formerly assigned to the 49th precinct and the Central Park precinct. O’Rourke’s family has been operating, maintaining and managing the Dyckman Street Marina, a New York City Parks Department concession, for many years.
 
The six-month long investigation, conducted by NYPD’s Manhattan North Narcotics Major Case Unit and prosecutors from the Office of the NYC Special Narcotics recorded 48 sales of cocaine, heroin, crack, ecstasy and marijuana to undercover officers since May of 2006. The drugs have a street value of an estimated $150,000. O’Rourke brokered many of the deals, turning the marina into a place where large-scale dealers in the area could meet with drug buyers who, unbeknownst to them, were actually undercover officers. Twenty-one narcotics purchases, ranging up to 80 grams of cocaine, took place at the marina, the restaurant or the bar within the marina compound which is located at 348 Dyckman Street in upper Manhattan. Officers also purchased ounce quantities of marijuana, and ecstasy pills.
    
According to city records, Dyckman Marine Group, Inc., which lists Jerome O’Rourke as its president, entered into a 15-year license agreement with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department in 1998.  The lease granted the group responsibility for the rental of moorings and slips, and the operation of a bar and a restaurant, once called Tubby Hook Cafe now called “El Caribe.” O’Rourke owns the restaurant with two other individuals not charged in the indictment.

The investigation revealed that O’Rourke became involved with narcotics dealing in part to finance renovations and improvements of the marina, bar nd restaurant.  Some of the restorations were repairs ordered by a 2002 City Comptroller’s Office audit.

Among those indicted for drug sales are brothers Jose De Leon and Manuel Parra, who are charged with running a crack, cocaine and heroin operation on Arden Street and Sherman Avenue, a three-minute walk from the marina. Also indicted were Anthony Bueno and Ariel Paula.  It is alleged that their operation on Sherman Avenue supplied cocaine to other dealers throughout the city.

Police conducted search warrant operations at the marina and a number of the defendants’ residences where they recovered cocaine, marijuana, and over two ounces of heroin. New York City Urban park rangers participated in some of the search operations at the marina.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said, “With boats docking at the marina 24 hours a day and the restaurant operating daily from 12 noon until late in the evening, the location became a duty free zone for large-scale drug deals. We hope that, with this indictment, this unique recreational area will become a peaceful retreat for area residents and not a safe haven for drug dealers.”

The following defendants were arraigned on their indictments before Judge Michael Ambrecht on December 13, 2006. They were all remanded pending bail applications set for Monday, December 18, 2006. Jerome O’Rourke was also arraigned on December 13, 2006, he is represented by Stacey Richmond. Bail was set for him at $500,000. His case was adjourned for January, 2008

Jerome O’Rourke, 42
345 Dyckman St.
New York, NY

Conspiracy 2nd Degree
Conspiracy 4th Degree
CSCS 1st Degree
CSCS 2nd Degree
CSCS 3rd Degree
Criminal Sale of Marijuana

Melvin Ramirez, 20
2 Sickles St.
New York, NY

Criminal Sale of a Controlled
Substance (CSCS) 1st Degree
CSCS 2nd Degree    

Katiria Hazim, 27
34 Hillside Avenue
New York, NY

CSCS 1st Degree (2 counts)
CSCS 3rd Degree

Manuel Parra, 25
40 Sherman Avenue
New York, NY

CSCS 1st Degree (2 counts)
CSCS 2nd Degree
CSCS 3rd Degree
Public Health Law

Manuel Parra, 25
40 Sherman Avenue
New York, NY

CSCS 1st Degree (2 counts)
CSCS 2nd Degree
CSCS 3rd Degree
Public Health Law

Jose De Leon, 23
40 Sherman Avenue
New York, NY

CSCS 1st Degree
CSCS 2nd Degree
CSCS 3rd Degree

Anthony Bueno, 19
221 Sherman Avenue
New York, NY

Conspiracy 2nd Degree
Conspiracy 4nd Degree
CSCS 1st Degree
CSCS 2nd Degreee
SCS 3rd Degree
Criminal Sale of Marijuana

Ricardo Vazquez, 36
6625 W. 164th St.
New York, NY

Conspiracy 2nd Degree
Conspiracy 4th  Degree
CSCS 1st Degree
CSCS 2nd Degree
CSCS 3rd Degree
Criminal Sale of Marijuana
Ariel Paula, 24
2252 Cedar Ave,
Bronx, NY 		Conspiracy 2nd Degree
Conspiracy 4th  Degree
CSCS 1st Degree
CSCS 2nd Degree
CSCS 3rd Degree
Criminal Sale of Marijuana

Luis De Leon, 29
520 Audobon Ave.
New York, NY

CSCS 1st Degree