South Shore drug ring busted

A sweeping drug trafficking operation across Long Island’s South Shore was disrupted after a nine-month investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency and Nassau County District Attorney’s office, resulting in 12 indictments, DA Anne Donnelly said on Thursday, Sept. 14.

More than eight pounds of cocaine and half a kilogram of fentanyl were seized during the nine-month investigation that spanned multiple communities along Nassau’s South Shore. Officials also recovered an assault weapon, a ghost gun and multiple high-capacity magazines.

“As alleged in the indictment, this trafficking ring sold poison in the form of crack, cocaine and fentanyl, all along the South Shore of Long Island,” Donnelly said in a release.

The investigation began in October 2022 and included homes on North Montgomery Street in Valley Stream, Derrick Adkins Lane in West Hempstead, Adams Street in Baldwin, and Azalea Court in Long Beach.

Donnelly in a release said 47-year-old Christopher Corley of Valley Stream was charged with operating as a major trafficker and conspiracy, along with multiple felony drug charges. He pleaded not guilty before Nassau County Judge Meryl Berkowtiz on Sept. 13.

Officials said they found a narcotics kilogram press used to make bricks of cocaine at Corley’s home, and stamps with the Yingyang symbol and a “Transformers” head. Officials said drugs were sold in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Malverne High School football coach Kito Lockwood, 49, of West Hempstead, pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

“The indictment of 12 defendants in this drug trafficking operation along the South Shore of Nassau County is a clear example of numerous law enforcement agencies working together to bring these individuals to justice,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder in a release. “Our communities are safer today with these individuals removed from our neighborhoods, as numerous firearms and large quantities of drugs have been seized.”

Officials said they conducted months of surveillance throughout Nassau and were granted warrants for electronic eavesdropping. Recorded conversations allegedly revealed Corley talking about making crack, “chopping up drugs,” and making deliveries of drugs with Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead, and James Anthony Alexander, 48, of Baldwin.

The indictments include:

• Christopher Corley, 47, Valley Stream, charged with operating as a major trafficker, conspiracy, and eight counts possession and one count of sale of a controlled substance;
• James Anthony Alexander, 48, of Baldwin, charged with conspiracy and three counts of possession and one count of sale of a controlled substance;
• Janeathea Nealy, 36, of Baldwin, charged with conspiracy and three counts of possession and one count of sale of a controlled substance;
• Thomas Keyes, 36, of Long Beach, charged with conspiracy and two counts of possession of a controlled substance;
• Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead, charged with conspiracy and 13 counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
• Tatiana Lopez, 35, of West Hempstead, charged with six counts of criminal possession of a weapon and three counts of criminal possession of a firearm;
• John Nealy, 22, of West Hempstead, charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
• Kito Lockwood, 49, of West Hempstead, charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
• Christopher Lasane, Sr., 50, of Long Beach, charged with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;
• Christopher Lasane, Jr., 27, of Long Beach, charged with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;
• Noelle Dean, 27, of Uniondale, charged with criminal possession of a firearm and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;
• Keya Evans, 48, of Long Beach, charged with criminal possession of a firearm and six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

All 12 defendants pleaded not guilty and are due back in court on Oct. 26.