687-Pound Cocaine Bust In Plainview Has Traffickers Facing Life In Prison: Authorities
Two Florida men face up to 25 years to life in prison after police found more than 300 kilograms of cocaine in a pickup truck outside a Long Island hotel, prosecutors said.
Daniel Santana, 36, and Michael Viera, 41, of DeLand, FL, were indicted Thursday, Oct. 8 on major trafficking and drug possession charges following the seizure in Plainview, the Nassau County District Attorney’s office said.
The investigation unfolded outside the Holiday Inn on Sunnyside Boulevard on Jan. 29, 2026, authorities said.
Detectives watched a black Dodge Ram pull into the parking lot near a white Mercedes-Ben…
Freeport Woman-Beater Who Threatened Girlfriend With Gun Gets Hefty Prison Term: Authorities
A Long Island man who beat his girlfriend near his toddler and later threatened to shoot her was sentenced to prison on Thursday, Oct. 8, prosecutors said.
David Chaplin, 58, of Freeport, got 23.5 years to life following his conviction on kidnapping, assault, weapons, and other charges, the Nassau County District Attorney’s office said.
The violence began when the victim visited Chaplin and his 2-year-old daughter in 2024, prosecutors said.
After an argument, Chaplin beat the woman with his fists and a wooden, bat-like object near his daughter, authorities said. The woman suffered a broken…
Dealer Caught With Almost 9K Fentanyl Packets, Cocaine In Middletown Gets Prison Time
A man will spend a decade behind bars after a months-long narcotics investigation led police to more than four ounces of cocaine, nearly 9,000 packets of fentanyl, and more than $57,000 in cash at his Orange County home, prosecutors said.
Middletown resident Christian Mojica, 35, was sentenced in Orange County Court on Thursday, Oct. 1, to 10 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The case stemmed from a months-long Middletown Police investigation into narcotics sales in and around …
Police Dog Sniffs Out Two Kilos Of Hidden Cocaine At Albany Traffic Stop: Authorities
A New York City man hauling two kilograms of cocaine through the Capital Region was busted with the help of a police dog, authorities said.
Kelvin L. Montana, 52, of Brooklyn, had hidden the coke in his vehicle while traveling on I-87 through Albany, New York State Police said Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Troopers pulled Montana over for a traffic violation around 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, state police said.
With the assistance of K-9 officer “J,” the investigators located more than two kilograms of cocaine in a “concealed compartment” inside Montana’s vehicle, troopers said.
Montana was charged…
1 Kilo Of Cocaine, 365 Grams Of Meth Seized On Route 17 In Mamakating, 2 Charged: Nysp
A traffic stop on Route 17 in Sullivan County led to the seizure of about a kilogram of cocaine and hundreds of grams of methamphetamine — and two arrests, police said.
Elmira residents Joseph T. Myers, 27, and Lakeem S. McFadden, 43, were arrested following a traffic stop in Mamakating on Sunday, Oct. 4, New York State Police announced on Monday, Oct. 5.
The events leading to their arrests began at around 6:45 p.m., when troopers said they saw a 2025 Nissan Sentra traveling west on Route 17 while committing several traffic violations.
Police stopped the Nissan and identified My…
LI Coke, Fentanyl Traffickers Hauled In $2M While On Parole For Drug Convictions: Investigators
Two major drug traffickers on Long Island who made more than $2 million from their operation have been arrested, authorities said Thursday, Oct. 1.
Shamiek Porter, 34, and Branden Harris, 36, are both accused of being major narcotics distributors, according to court documents filed in Suffolk County.
Porter and Harris also have previous drug trafficking convictions and were on parole prior to their arrests on Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to state prison records and county prosecutors.
While Porter and Harris worked together throughout the scheme, Porter was the initial provider of cocain…
Norwalk Drug Probe Ends With 2 Arrests And A Carload Of Charges
A Connecticut man and woman face drug charges after police said a traffic stop turned up cocaine, heroin/fentanyl and supplies used to package drugs for sale.
Charles Piazza, 49, and Melissa Kozma, 40, were pulled over at Spring Hill Avenue and Loomis Street in Norwalk on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Both had outstanding arrest warrants tied to a drug investigation, Norwalk police said.
Investigators suspected the pair of selling cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, authorities said.
Officers searched their vehicle and uncovered 41.5 grams of powdered cocaine, more than four grams o…
Serial Kings Park Bank Robber With ‘No Funny Business’ Demand Note Headed Back To Prison: DA
A serial Long Island bank robber who hit two more banks in December 2025 was sentenced Thursday, Oct. 1 to more prison time, authorities said.
Brian Blackford, 52, of Kings Park, got five and a half to 11 years in prison after admitting to the heists, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said. The sentence was consistent with his plea deal in August.
Blackford’s name, age, hometown, and general appearance match a man who was charged in seven bank robberies and arrested in 2014, according to prior reports. Blackford spent seven years in state prison before his release in November 20…
Cocaine-Hauling Trio Busted After Saratoga Springs Driving Blunder: Police
A trio of New York men were busted with cocaine after they were pulled over in a traffic stop in the Capital Region, authorities said.
Steven M. Wescott, 40; Jason O. Allen, 47; and Patrick M. Howe, 48, were cuffed Thursday, Sept. 10 in Saratoga Springs, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said.
Wescott was behind the wheel of a vehicle that made an illegal signal around 3:15 p.m. Thursday on Hamilton Street, the sheriff’s office said. An investigation at the stop led to Wescott, Allen, and Howe all being charged with two counts of third-degree drug possession, according to authorities.
W…
Masked Man With Gun, Machete Confronts Driver In Clifton: Police
A masked man armed with a handgun and machete was arrested after pointing the gun at a driver in Clifton, authorities said.
Eddy Calixto, 47, of Clifton, approached an occupied vehicle near Knapp Avenue and Schoonmaker Place at approximately 2:47 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, Clifton Police Detective Lt. Robert Anderson said.
Wearing black clothing and a black ski mask, Calixto knocked on the vehicle's window and pointed a handgun at the person inside, according to a 911 caller, Anderson said.
Officer Luis Candelaria found Calixto less than a block away, still wearing the ski mask and carryin…
Convicted Felon Busted With 15 Guns, $37K Cash, Pounds Of Drugs In Exeter Raid: Prosecutors
A convicted felon was arrested after investigators seized 15 firearms, thousands of dollars in suspected drug proceeds, and large quantities of marijuana and cocaine during a raid at a Pennsylvania home, prosecutors announced Thursday, July 23.
Adalberto Acevedo Jr., 39, of the 75 Overlook Drive, was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and persons not to possess firearms, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said.
The search warrant was executed Wednesday, July 22, by the Berks…
3 Pounds Of Cocaine Found During Thruway Traffic Stop In Bethlehem, Police Say
More than three pounds of cocaine were seized during a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway, New York State Police announced on Thursday, June 18.
Robert C. Davis, 39, of Troy, Freddie J. Fields, 45, of Albany, and Terrell C. Welcome, 36, of Schenectady were arrested following the stop on Interstate 87 in Bethlehem at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, according to state police.
Troopers assigned to the Troop G Community Stabilization Unit stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation while working in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, police said.
Davis was identif…
LI Middle School Weed Gummy Suspect Fled For Canada, Busted At Border: Authorities
The man accused of giving weed gummies to a Long Island middle school student was arrested trying to flee the country at the Canadian border, authorities said Thursday, April 30.
Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, was busted at the Lewiston Bridge north of Niagara Falls while trying to enter Canada, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said.
After Castillo Garcia, a Guatemalan citizen, was arrested at the Canadian border on Oct. 4, 2025, he was placed in ICE custody for deportation proceedings, according to the district attorney’s office. However, Suffolk County authorities requested his …
Dark Web Dealer 'MamaKnowsBear' Gets 15 Years For Nationwide Drug Ring Based In Centereach
A woman who ran a nationwide drug operation from her Long Island home using the dark web, cryptocurrency, and mail carriers was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Carolyn Tolin, 46, of Centereach, was sentenced in Suffolk County Court Thursday, Jan. 22, after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance and attempted operating as a major trafficker.
Tolin operated under the online alias “MamaKnowsBrown,” selling fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine from her Centereach home to customers across the country, according to the Suffolk County DA’s office. She admitted to possessing and…
Trio Arrested After Lengthy Narcotic Task Force Investigation In Manchester
Police say three men face narcotics charges after an investigation into drug trafficking in and around Manchester.
Jerry Mercado, 39, of Hartford, and Yosti Vega, 45, of East Hartford, were arrested last week after investigators with the East Central Narcotics Task Force stopped their vehicle. He said officers seized fentanyl, cocaine, PCP, and cash during the stop.
Mercado faces several charges. Those include possession with intent to sell a narcotic substance, possession with intent to sell one ounce or more of a narcotic substance, possession of a controlled substance, operating a drug f…
