15 Arrested For Trafficking Heroin, Fentanyl, and Meth In Brooklyn And California

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bridget M. Rohde, announced yesterday that an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brooklyn federal and state prosecutors, and the NYPD, led to the arrest of 13 alleged drug dealers in Brooklyn, and two in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in connection with a large-scale opioid and crystal methamphetamine distribution ring.

The 15 defendants are allegedly members of a Brooklyn-based drug ring that transported, repackaged, and distributed heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription pills using code names such as “doggy food” from approximately September 2016 through July 2017, according to the investigation.

The conspiracy involved the group distributing more than 100 grams of heroin and selling at least 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine which they shipped from California to Brooklyn.

Members of the group sold pure fentanyl to buyers telling them it was “potent heroin” in at least two incidents.

“The details laid out in this case prove dealers pushing their wares aren’t honest about what they’re selling to an unsuspecting public,” said William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI. “Pure fentanyl and drugs laced with the drug have proven deadly in hundreds of cases all over the country. Users buying the drugs are playing a dangerous game of chance with their lives because they don’t know what they’re putting in their bodies,” he added.

Ten defendants Timothy Greene, 44; Matthew Greene, 23; Samuel Liriano, 33; Carlos (Carlito) Bermudez, 55; Tania Aguilar, 41; Donald (Dot) Lnu; Fnu Lnu (Ray Banger); Palayotis (Peter) Lamprinos, 30; Kyle Sammut, 30; and George Economos, 52, were arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday, August 22, according to the New York Daily News.

Five other defendants were arraigned in Brooklyn State Court: Jorge Galarza, George Suarez, Ruby Cruz, Luis Aguilar, and Natasha Smith, the Daily News reports. All are being charged with selling heroin in Sunset Park, the paper says.

The two defendants arrested in Pennsylvania will be extradited to Brooklyn on federal charges.

“As alleged, the defendants trafficked in dangerous narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine to line their pockets with cash, despite the potentially lethal consequences to those using the drugs and to our community at large,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rohde said.

“This Office and our partners at the FBI and NYPD will continue to investigate and prosecute those who contribute to the tragic opioid crisis by trafficking these deadly drugs.”