Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, announced that three individuals have been arrested and charged for allegedly operating as a network of dealers who supplied a variety of drugs to buyers in Far Rockaway, Queens, and other boroughs over the last year. An additional crew member and a separate defendant were previously apprehended and indicted on attempted murder charges stemming from an alleged shoot-out in Far Rockaway in April.

District Attorney Katz said: “Illicit drugs, and the clear danger they help fuel, have no place in our communities. My Office will work with the utmost precision to remove this poison from our streets and hold accountable those who profit from the drug trade. I’d like to thank my Major Economics Bureau and our partners at the NYPD for their steadfast efforts to rid Queens County of such criminality.”

Police Commissioner Sewell said: “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to rid New York City of illegal drugs and prevent the violence so often associated with the illicit narcotics trade. This case underscores our work to arrest and hold fully accountable anyone who seeks to profit from criminality. For the success of their dedicated investigation, I am proud to thank our NYPD investigators, the prosecutors from the Queens District Attorney’s office, and everyone else who contributed to this important takedown.”

The District Attorney’s Major Economic Crimes Bureau along with the NYPD’s Queens South Violent Crime Squad conducted a 12-months-long investigation leading to the arrests of the defendants, as well as the seizure of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, illegal firearms, and other items.

District Attorney Katz identified the defendants as Darren Jordan, 44, of Gateway Boulevard in Far Rockway, Queens; Dexter Joseph, 49, of West Kingsbride in the Bronx; and Eric Weatherspoon, 56, of Thursby Avenue in Arverne, Queens. The three defendants were arraigned on Wednesday, November 16 on various charges before Queens Supreme Court Judge Anthony M. Battisti, who ordered them to return to Court on November 21.

Defendant Weatherspoon is additionally charged with operating as a major trafficker.

Previously arrested on April 12 and subsequently indicted by a grand jury are defendants Semaj McKay, alleged member of the drug dealing crew, and Marvin “Fab” Mitchell. Both face criminal charges following an alleged shoot-out over a territorial dispute on Neilson Street in Far Rockaway on April 11. The incident was intercepted during the course of the narcotics trafficking investigation. (See Addendum for details on each defendant).

District Attorney Katz said this investigation began in November 2021 with members of the NYPD’s Queens South Violent Crimes Squad uncovering a pattern of criminal activity including drug trafficking in Queens County, and other boroughs. Through the use of surveillance, intelligence gathering and Court-authorized eavesdropping warrants, law enforcement officials identified concrete evidence of a controlled substances trafficking organization involving the defendants, with the exception of Mitchell.

On November 16, police executed a Court-authorized search warrant for the locations associated with defendants Jordan, Joseph and Weatherspoon. During the search, law enforcement officials recovered the following items:

• 9.5 Kilos of Cocaine
• 216 Pounds of Marijuana
• 10 Grams of Heroin
• 2 Firearms
  – 1 loaded Ruger .40 Caliber
  – 1 loaded MP Shield 9MM
• 2 Bullet Proof Vest
• Narcotics Packaging, Plastic Viles, Ziplockbags
• 4 Scales
• 1 Kilogram Press
• 15 Cellphones

The joint investigation was conducted by Detective Jaipaul Ramdat and Sergeant Brendan Meehan, of the NYPD’s Queens Violent Crime Squad, under the supervision of Lieutenant Eric Sonnenberg and Captain Robert D’Andrea, and under the overall supervision of Chief of Detectives James W. Essig.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Speck, Supervisor of the Cyber Crimes Unit within the DA’s Major Economic Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Scharf, Deputy Chief, Assistant District Attorney Catherine Kane, Senior Deputy Chief, Assistant District Attorney Mary Lowenburg, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave.

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ADDENDUM**

DARREN JORDAN, a.k.a. “Bizzo,” is charged in a nine-count complaint with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree, and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. If convicted, Jordan faces up to 15 years in prison.

DEXTER JOSEPH, a.k.a. “JD Prez,” is charged in a five-count complaint with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree, and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. If convicted, Joseph faces up to 30 years in prison.

ERIC WEATHERSPOON, a.k.a. “JD Flow,” is charged an eight-count complaint with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first, third and fourth degrees, operating as a major trafficker, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree, and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. If convicted, Weatherspoon faces up to 20 years in prison.

SEMAJ MCKAY, 44, of Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway, was arraigned on June 1 on a 37-count grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree, three counts of attempted assault in the first and second degrees, 17 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, three counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, and four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in seventh degrees. If convicted, McKay faces up to 25 years in prison.

MARVIN “FAB” MITCHELL, 36, of 229th Street in Springfield Gardens, was arraigned on May 11 on a 14-count grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of attempted assault in the first degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. If convicted, Mitchell faces up to 25 years in prison.