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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        
July 28, 2010                                                 CONTACTS:
                                                         
                                                                        Kati Cornell
                                                                        Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office
                                                                        (212) 815-0525

                                                                        Paul J. Browne
                                                                        New York City Police Department
                                                                        (646) 610-6700

DRUG TRAFFICKING RING DISMANTLED AND FIREARM SEIZED FOLLOWING YEAR-LONG PROBE AT ALBANY HOUSES

New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced today the arrests and indictments of  six heroin and crack-cocaine dealers who operated in the Albany Houses, a NYCHA Housing Development in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The defendants sold the drugs from apartments, public hallways and stairwells inside two building at the complex.

Undercover officers made dozens of buys from the dealers during the probe, which began in the summer of 2009 and was spearheaded by the NYPD’s Brooklyn North Narcotics Division. During one exchange, a subject of the investigation was videotaped conducting a drug sale with his preschool-aged child in tow. The loose confederation of dealers regularly referred customers to one another and charged $10 for bags of heroin and crack. Heroin glassines sold by the group were branded with the names “Carabela,” “Now & Later,” “Gucci” and “Power.”

Early this morning, officers executed search warrants at 11 apartments inside 162 Troy Ave. and 180 Troy Ave. and seized small amounts of heroin, crack and marijuana, as well as a large quantity of drug packaging material and paraphernalia. Police found a handgun on the ground below the window of one of the target apartments at 162 Troy Ave. and seized a matching loaded magazine from inside the residence.

Six defendants were arrested on felony drug charges this morning, including five who were previously indicted by a grand jury. Several additional arrests were referred to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution on misdemeanor marijuana and weapons possession charges.

The investigation began when an observant officer detected a pattern of drug dealing at the Albany Houses. A series of shootings at the complex earlier this year drew increased police presence to the area. Nearly 2,000 residents live in the 6 building that comprise the Albany Houses. The Special Narcotics Prosecutor is coordinating with NYCHA, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD to conduct community outreach efforts and address drug issues in the buildings.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.