NYCHA Failed To Enforce Ban on Drug Dealers, DOI Reports

SHEEPSHEAD BAY – After a 16-month investigation into drug dealing in NYCHA’s Sheepshead and Nostrand Houses, the Department of Investigations announced 18 arrests—including 3 NYCHA employees—last Friday in a release that took the New York City Housing Authority to task for “continued failure to effectively enforce its Permanent Exclusion policy for dangerous and criminal offenders.”

The investigation was conducted by the NYPD and FBI, tracking members of the Towaz Boyz gang, which resulted in 15 arrests on drug and conspiracy charges. Three NYCHA employees were also arrested, two of whom purchased marijuana from an apartment in the Sheepshead Houses while in uniform and on duty.

Most sobering, however, is the Department of Investigation’s revelation that not only was NYCHA was “fully aware” that two of the recently charged suspects were still living in public housing despite having been Permanently Excluded from NYCHA property, but that the Housing Authority “failed to take further enforcement action to protect other Sheepshead/Nostrand residents.”

The permanent exclusion policy is designed to exclude certain individuals engaged in dangerous conduct from residing in NYCHA housing without evicting an entire household. However, the DOI report shows NYCHA was deficient in enforcing its bans against certain drug-dealing residents in the Sheepshead/Nostrand Houses.

“Today’s arrests highlight the inherent dangers of allowing serious, recidivist criminals to continue to reside on NYCHA property,” said Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark G. Peters. “DOI’s Report demonstrates NYCHA’s continued failure to exclude these offenders—disregarding its own policies and DOI’s repeated findings in this critical area of safety. By defying its own policy of Permanent Exclusion, NYCHA is placing its residents at risk.”

The DOI has re-issued recommendations previously made in 2015 and 2017 for NYCHA to more aggressively pursue Permanent Exclusion cases, and prosecuting tenancy cases against leaseholders who are culpable in allowing offenders into NYCHA housing.

In a letter to NYCHA Chairwoman Shola Olatoye, Commissioner Peters requested Olatoye inform the department within 30 days as to whether NYCHA would adopt the recommendations, the Daily News reported.