Monday, April 25, 2005
TWENTY-SIX ALLEGED DRUG DEALERS INDICTED FOR CRIMINAL SALE OF CRACK COCAINE AND MARIHUANA FOLLOWING UNDERCOVER OPERATION AT PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT NEAR JAMAICA’S DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, joined by Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, announced today the indictment of 26 alleged drug dealers charging them in multiple indictments with over 100 separate counts of criminal sale of cocaine and marihuana to undercover police officers.
The investigation at a private housing development on 164th Street near Jamaica’s downtown business district was part of an ongoing anti-drug enforcement initiative.
District Attorney Brown said, “The defendants have been charged with selling illicit drugs to undercover police officers in a crackdown that is part of an ongoing anti-drug initiative in Queens County by the Police Department and my office’s Narcotics Investigations Bureau. The charges are serious and some carry a sentence upon conviction of up to 24 years in prison. The defendants will be vigorously prosecuted so that they never again pose a threat to the public safety and quality of life to law abiding residents of Jamaica.”
The District Attorney added, “The indictments resulted from information provided by members of the community who observed illegal narcotics dealing, became concerned and notified law enforcement. Police and prosecutors can work together with residents to protect public safety and improve our quality of life and this prosecution is a superb example of the benefit of such concern, cooperation and mutual support. Our goal is to make the living and working environment of all our neighborhoods in Queens safe and secure.”
Police Commissioner Kelly said, “The 21 individuals we arrested set up the wrong kind of shop in this Queens commercial district. Thanks to the great work by our officers, this drug operation in Jamaica is now out of business.”
According to the District Attorney, the defendants are alleged to have repeatedly sold crack cocaine and marihuana to New York City Police Department undercover police officers between May 2004 and March 2005.
District Attorney Brown said that the defendants have been variously charged in multiple indictments with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First, Second and Third Degree and Criminal Sale of Marihuana in the Third and Fourth Degree and some face up to 24 years in prison, if convicted.
The District Attorney said that the indictments allege over 100 separate illegal drug sales by the various defendants including the following transactions:
- Dareon Joseph, 23, of Jamaica, Queens who allegedly sold over two and three-eighths ounces of cocaine;
- Abraham Sirleaf, 21, of Brooklyn who, on three separate occasions, allegedly sold approximately three ounces of cocaine; and
- Anthony Holm, 26, of Jamaica, Queens who allegedly sold over two and three-eighths ounces of cocaine.
District Attorney Brown said that community cooperation remains a crucial and essential element of law enforcement efforts to combat drug dealing.
The investigation was conducted by Lieutenant Vincent Barclay, Sergeant Ronald Torres, and Detective James Harris, of the New York City Police Department’s Narcotics Borough Queens under the supervision of Assistant Chief Anthony J. Izzo, Narcotics Division, and Deputy Inspectors John E. Essig and Captain Louis Mayr, Narcotics Borough Queens and the overall supervision of Chief Douglas Zeigler, Organized Crime Control Bureau.
Assistant District Attorneys Philip D. Anderson, Paul E. Cardon, Eleonora B. Rivkin and Julie S. Trevedi of the District Attorney's Narcotics Investigations Bureau are prosecuting the cases under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Wilbert J. LeMelle, Bureau Chief, Karen J. Friedman, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Mark L. Katz, Supervisor, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.
The following defendants are in custody:
1- Rashawn Banks, 18, 89-34 164th Street, Jamaica,
Queens;
2- Dominick Bienaime, 21, 8410 Glenwood Road, Canarsie, Brooklyn;
3- Kaseam Booth, 26, 757 East 108th Street, East Flatbush, Brooklyn;
4- Dugan Boynton, 27, 759 East 108th Street, East Flatbush, Brooklyn;
5- Barton Boykin, 29, 164-07 109th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens;
6- Sidney Brown, 35, 146-15 249th Street, Rosedale, Queens;
7- Nicholas Christmas, 18, 107-11 159th Street, Jamaica, Queens;
8- Michael Cox, 21, 709 Lafayette Avenue, Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
9- Ricardo Henriquez, 27, 135-16 124th Street, South Ozone Park, Queens;
10- Anthony Holm, 26, 166-40 89th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens;
11- Milton Irizarry, 37, 401 Woodbine Street, Ridgewood, Brooklyn;
12- Carl Jenkins, 41, 162-09 89th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens;
13- Jamah Johnston, 26, 88-35 164th Street, Jamaica, Queens;
14- Dareon Joseph, 23, 198-05 Carpenter Avenue, Jamaica, Queens;
15- Kwame March, 25, 88-15 168th Street, Jamaica, Queens;
16- Vaughn Payne, 28, 88-15 168th Street, Jamaica, Queens;
17- Abraham Sirleaf, 21, 3414 Crescent Street, New Lots, Brooklyn;
18- Momolu Sirleaf, 21, 3144 Atlantic Avenue, Sea Gate, Brooklyn;
19- Wesly Thompson, 19, 102-21 221st Street, Ozone Park, Queens;
20- Derek Warren, 21, 2019 Pacific Street, Crown Heights, Brooklyn;
21- Dwan Watson, 21, 31-17 105th Street, Jackson Heights, Queens;
Five additional defendants are still being sought.
It should be noted that indictments are merely an accusation and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.