November 11, 10

NEWS / Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges More Than 30 Members of Hunts Point Criminal Organizations with Dist

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JANICE K. FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York ("NYPD"), today announced the unsealing of four Indictments and one Complaint charging 33 members of criminal organizations based in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx with conspiracy to distribute "crack" cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin. In a coordinated operation last night and earlier today, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested 24 defendants in the Bronx. Four of the charged defendants were previously arrested. Five defendants remain at large. Most of the defendants are expected to be presented in Manhattan federal court later today.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA stated: "With these arrests, we have shut off yet another distribution channel for the poison that threatens New Yorkers and their communities. It is another example of our commitment to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute and punish those responsible for bringing illegal narcotics onto our streets."

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK stated: "Today’s arrests demonstrate a significant crackdown on criminal organizations and individuals who harbor the desire to distribute illegal narcotics. The effects of this type of activity are not only dangerous for those involved, but poisonous to society as a whole. Along with our fellow law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to seek out those responsible for contaminating our streets and threatening the safety of our communities."

NYPD Commissioner RAYMOND W. KELLY said: "I want to commend our undercover officers, in particular, for the often dangerous work they undertake to check the scourge of addictive, illegal drugs and their inevitable nexus to violence. I also want to thank our federal partners for their dedication in prosecuting these drugs dealers."

http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/nyfo111010.htm