5 Brooklynites Accused of Running Two Major Narcotics Rings

Cocaine and heroin are a bit less “Brooklyn bound” thanks to the efforts of New York law enforcement. Yesterday, Attorney General Letitia James announced charges against seven individuals – five of them from Brooklyn – who are charged with 97 crimes connected with trafficking and distribution of cocaine and heroin, often mixed with fentanyl. The indictments unsealed yesterday allege the accused sold more than 5kg of cocaine and 500g of heroin in the span of 6 months between October 2018 and March 2019.

“The drugs from these individuals will no longer be Brooklyn Bound,” said Attorney General Letitia James referring to the code name for the project. “This toxic cocktail of heroin laced with fentanyl has been taking lives and ravaging communities throughout New York and we are committed to rooting out the drug rings that flood our streets with it. ”

“I commend the efforts of our Special Investigations Unit and our partners with the Office of the Attorney General for their diligent work on this case,” said New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett.

The 13-month joint investigation included covert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps, aimed at rooting out heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine dealers operating in Kings County. Officers recovered more than 500g of heroin and fentanyl and 450g of cocaine as well as thousands of dollars in proceeds from narcotics sales, Attorney General’s office informed, and the investigation has resulted in two indictments.

According to the first one, Brooklyn neighbor, Joseph Williams, 41, is alleged to be the supplier of cocaine for distribution to Derrick “Suge” Sanders, 39, another Kings county resident. Lebarnes “Fat Boy” McClure, 55, also from Brooklyn, helped Sanders sell the narcotic to Todd Carroll, 47, of Staten Island for further distribution. They also allegedly sold to Carlos Shiwbaran, 44 of Schenectady in New York, among others. Williams is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a mandatory life sentence in state prison, among other charges.

The second indictment, People v. Middleton, et al, accuses two Brooklyn residents –  Shanavia “Neevy” Middleton, 45, and Timmie “Scatter” Dansby, 48, – with selling heroin in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

Since launching in 2017, Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative has taken 495 alleged traffickers off the streets – and this is just the latest major bust resulting from the cooperation of state and local law enforcement to take down New York’s narcotics trafficking networks.

The investigation was led by Attorney General OCTF Investigator Zylona Silva, under the supervision of Supervising Investigator Bradford Miller and Deputy Chief Christopher Vasta. The Attorney General’s Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes.

The case is being prosecuted by Attorney General OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Christopher S. Clark, under the supervision of Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Lauren Abinanti. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. The Criminal Justice Division is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado.