East End Bloods' Gang-Related Drug Ring Dismantled: U.S. Attorney

EAST END, NY — The takedown of an East End crack cocaine ring that included members of the Bloods street gang in Riverhead led to the arrest of 15 individuals, according to the United States Dept. of Justice.

On Wednesday, three separate indictments were unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging 12 defendants as part of a coordinated federal and state takedown of several large-scale crack cocaine distribution operations on the East End, according to a release from the United States Attorney.

One defendant was charged in a complaint with possession of a firearm in addition to drug trafficking and possession of crack cocaine, authorities said.

The defendants facing federal charges were arrested Wednesday and arraigned before United States Magistrate Judges Anne Y. Shields and Steven I. Locke; all were ordered detained pending trial, authorities said.

Two additional defendants were arrested on related New York state drug charges by members of the East End Drug Task Force — and three federal defendants remain fugitives, officials said.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York field office; Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Geraldine Hart, Commissioner of Suffolk County Police Department; George P. Beach II, superintendent of the New York State Police, Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller, and Ashan M. Benedict, special agent-in-charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York field office announced the charges on Wednesday.

“The toxic mix of street gangs, drug dealing and illegal firearms poses a direct threat to the safety of our citizens and our community,” United States Attorney Donoghue said. “The Eastern District and our law enforcement partners in the FBI, ATF and Suffolk County will continue to target, penetrate and destroy criminal gangs that inflict addiction, violence and grief on the people of Suffolk County.”

Donoghue also thanked NYSP Troop L Commander Major David C. Candelaria for assistance in the investigation.

“The epidemic of illegal drugs and associated criminal activity negatively affects individuals and communities across the country, from every background and walk of life,” Sweeney said. “As these arrests today demonstrate, the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, along with our federal, state and local partners, will not rest until the individuals and criminal networks responsible for creating this atmosphere of lawlessness and violence are held accountable for their alleged crimes.”

Those charged were part of a ring made up of gang members that "spread dangerous narcotics throughout their communities," Benedict said. “ATF stands with our law enforcement partners as a united front to prevent these illegal narcotics rings from harming our citizens."

Sini lauded all involved: “Because of the great collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement, the East End of Long Island is safer,” he said. “My office will continue to work tirelessly with all of our law enforcement partners to eradicate violent street gangs from our communities."

Hart added: “These individuals, many of whom are affiliated with the Bloods street gang, have spread narcotics in our communities and have preyed upon the addicted. We will continue to target dealers and dedicate resources to fighting this epidemic.”

“The cooperation between agencies in this investigation is unparalleled,” added Hegermiller. “Thanks to everyone for their dedication and relentless work protecting our communities here on the East End.”

As alleged in court filings, in early 2018, members of the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force and the Suffolk County East End Drug Task Force began conducting an investigation into street gangs and narcotics traffickers operating in and around Riverhead, authorities said.

The defendants, many of whom were members or associates of the Bloods street gang, were involved in the large-scale distribution of crack cocaine, officials said.

Several of the defendants would “cook” powder cocaine into crack cocaine, to increase its potency and street value — and in one instance, while a man was cooking cocaine, a child was present in the residence, the U.S. Attorney said in a release.

Members of law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple locations Wednesday, recovering seven firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, three kilograms of cocaine, four pounds of marijuana, a quantity of crack cocaine and heroin and $10,000 in cash, the U.S. Attorneys' Office said.

Those charged included Terrill "Motis" or "Mo" Latney, 39, of Riverhead; Romaine "Foo" Hopkins, 36, of Riverhead; Matthew "Pearl" Pittma, 43, of Southampton; Kenneth "KB" Belcher, 31, of Riverhead, Koterra "Red" Jackson, 36, of Riverhead; John "Bones" Gamble, 37, of Shirley; Randy Smith, 33, of Riverhead; Deon Shorter, 22, of Mastic; Tramaine "Bootsie" Brown, 29, of Jamesport; Quandol Lewis, 34, of Riverhead; Demario "MK" Weston, 34, of Riverhead; Dayna "SI" Barrow, 35, of Riverhead, and Daniel Harris, 25, of Riverhead, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The federal cases are being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division; Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Boeckmann and Michael Maffei are in charge of the prosecution, officials said.

Patch file photo.