A Seaford man was charged with drug possession as part of a large-scale narcotics investigation that led to the indictment of six people accused of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine and xylazine throughout Nassau County, prosecutors said.
Joseph Giunta, 76, of Seaford, was arrested June 24 and arraigned Sept. 4 on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. Giunta is due back in court Oct. 6 and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted.
The investigation, conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, began after detectives identified distinctive green ink stamps on packages of narcotics recovered from the scenes of a fatal overdose in June 2025 and a nonfatal overdose the following month, according to prosecutors.
Investigators eventually traced the stamps to Jemmal Bryan, 42, of Jamaica, Queens, who prosecutors said coordinated hundreds of drug sales with his sister and other co-conspirators throughout Nassau County.
Authorities said Bryan allegedly sold bundles and sleeves of fentanyl, fentanyl mixed with xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” and cocaine in communities including Roosevelt, Valley Stream, Glen Cove, Merrick and Massapequa.
A July 16 search of Bryan’s Queens home resulted in the seizure of about 1,040 grams of fentanyl, more than 2,200 packaged envelopes containing fentanyl, about 200 grams of cocaine, 100 grams of crack cocaine, firearms, more than $12,000 in cash and other drug-related materials, prosecutors said.
Bryan was charged with operating as a major trafficker and numerous counts related to the sale and possession of controlled substances. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded. He is due back in court Oct. 6.
The other defendants include Keana Bryan, 43, of Endicott; Ian Sharkey, 38, of Middle Island; Leo Duchnowski, 35, of Glen Cove; and Jennifer Loheide, 45, of Merrick.
The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
