Suffolk County cocaine trafficking indictment: 10 charged in case spanning from Queens to Riverhead

Suffolk County prosecutors announced an indictment of 10 people on Thursday, charged in a cocaine trafficking ring, leading to seizures of more than 14 ounces of cocaine from more than a dozen search warrants spanning from Queens to Riverhead.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and detectives from several police departments, including the East End Drug Task Force, started investigating drug sales in July 2024 when undercover officers began making more than a dozen purchases of cocaine from a home in Riverside.

Through the investigation and leading up to the indictment, authorities served 18 search warrants on Long Island and in Queens. Police searched five homes and a dozen vehicles, finding cocaine, more than 100 pounds of illegal marijuana, eight guns, ammunition and more than $170,000 in cash.

Police also seized drug processing materials including a kilo press, dilutants used to make crack cocaine and packaging materials.

"This investigation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations that spew poison into our communities," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement. "The defendants in this case allegedly turned a residential neighborhood into an open-air drug market, bringing violence and addiction to the doorsteps of Suffolk County families."

Police began investigating Timothy McKay Sr., 52, of Riverside, last year; he was accused of "operating a drug market" to sell crack with associates from his home.

An undercover detective with the district attorney’s fentanyl task force allegedly made 26 cocaine purchases from McKay, Timothy McKay Jr., 36, Joseph McKay, 52, and Ronald Love, 59, all of Riverside.

Prosecutors said Robert E. Love, 71, of Riverhead, led the operation of dealers and was supported by one of the suppliers, identified as Prince Yellordy, 48, of Freeport.

Detectives saw several people walking up the driveway of the Brown Street home to make drug purchases in the backyard daily, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said, in June, Hallock Luce, 40, of Riverhead, arranged for a delivery to Robert Love. Authorities searched Love’s home, where they seized 14 ounces of cocaine in his living room and bedroom and $11,000 in cash. Detectives also found drug packaging materials and digital scales, officials said. 

Prosecutors said a Suffolk County grand jury returned an indictment last week, leading to the arrests and arraignment of eight of the 10 defendants on July 11.

Authorities said two unnamed defendants have not yet been arrested.

The indictment charged Robert Love, Joe McKay, Timothy McKay Sr., McKay Jr. and Ronald Love with conspiracy, criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance.

McKay Sr. also was charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

Yellordy, Luce and Aleatra Eleazar, 37, of Northampton, were charged with conspiracy. Eleazar also was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

The eight defendants pleaded not guilty during their arraignments last week in Suffolk County criminal court.

Keith O’Halloran, Joe McKay’s attorney, said his client denied the charges and was waiting to review evidence. 

Attorneys for Yellordy and McKay Jr. declined to comment. Attorneys for the other five defendants could not be reached on Thursday.

Newsday's Lara Murray-Sterzel contributed to this report. 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.