Suffolk DA: Baldwin man led narcotics ring

Other South Shore residents charged

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A Baldwinite is accused of supplying drugs to dealers as part of a narcotics distribution ring that operated throughout Long Island and parts of New York City, the Suffolk County District Attorney announced Nov. 8. A second Baldwin man, four Freeporters, a Rockville Centre resident and a Wantagh woman were also arrested as part of the bust, prosecutors announced.

“These defendants, like all drug dealers, were just out to make a profit with no regard for human life,” Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini said in a statement. “They poisoned our communities with every gram of narcotics they sold. It is clear that the world of drug dealing on Long Island is without borders, which is why the sharing of intelligence among the various law enforcement agencies, like the collaboration that made this investigation possible, is critical.”

The multi-agency investigation, titled “Operation Moneygram,” began more than a year ago and focused on Sheron Davis, known as "Money Ron," of Baldwin. Davis — who is believed to be a Bloods gang member — allegedly supplied drugs to dealers linked with heroin overdoses on Long Island, including two fatal ones in Suffolk and one fatal in Nassau. It was unclear where the overdoses took place.

Dealers allegedly sold heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, opioid pills and other controlled substances.

“They also manufactured narcotics for distribution, including cooking crack cocaine and pressing pills, which are counterfeit opioids made of dangerous and lethal controlled substances crafted to look like pharmaceutically manufactured pills,” Sini said.

Law enforcement officials on Nov. 5 searched homes in Baldwin, Hempstead and Freeport as part of the investigation, Sini said, which resulted in the seizure of drugs, drug paraphernalia, about $4,000 in U.S. cash, firearms and counter-surveillance equipment.

A car allegedly belonging to Freeporter Cesar Julio Diaz Bautista was also taken by investigators and was found to be outfitted with two secret compartments used for drug trafficking, Sini said.

In addition to Davis and Diaz Bautista, investigators also arrested Calvin ".40 Caliber" Honegan, of Freeport, David Ortiz, aka "Big Poppy," of Rockville Centre, Katie Gallagher, of Wantagh, Jeremy McFarland, aka "Germ," of Baldwin, Tyrik Reese, aka "Freak," of Freeport, and Russell Neiderman, of Freeport. Five Hempstead residents and a Farmingdale man were also arrested.

Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison if convicted of second-degree conspiracy charges.

The investigation included officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Nassau County Police Department and the Long Island Heroin Task Force.

“Law enforcement arrested gang members, removed large amounts of illegal drugs from our streets and confiscated illegal weapons, thus keeping our residents safe,” Patrick Ryder, NCPD commissioner, said in a statement. “Through the combined efforts of these investigative agencies, we will continue to remove these criminals from our communities and I congratulate all on a job well done.”