Two Long Island men charged in major drug trafficking operation, prosecutors say

Two Long Island men have been charged with running a multimillion-dollar drug ring that Suffolk prosecutors said is a major narcotics trafficking operation.

Shamiek T. Porter, 34, of Freeport, and Branden J. Harris, 36, of West Babylon, pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges in separate arraignments before acting State Supreme Court Justice Richard Horowitz in Riverhead. If convicted, they face life in prison.

An eight-count indictment also charged the men with conspiracy, saying they met 10 times in recent weeks "in furtherance of narcotics distribution."

According to court papers, the drug ring operated throughout Suffolk and Nassau from Aug. 1, 2025, to Sept. 16, generating at least $2.1 million in criminal proceeds.

"The defendants' scheme has been to obtain large amounts of narcotics which they then sell to buyers and resellers through their illegal narcotics distribution network operating in Suffolk County, New York, and beyond," Suffolk prosecutors said in the papers.

Horowitz ordered Porter held without bail. The judge ordered Harris held in lieu of $500,000 bail, $1 million bond, or $3 million partially secured bond.

Attorney Danielle Papa, of Hauppauge, who represented Harris during his arraignment, said she would review the evidence and explore potential defenses with her client.

Christopher Cassar, Porter’s Huntington-based attorney, said the judge’s decision to order his client held without bail was "excessive." He said months of wiretaps by investigators did not reveal any criminality.

"My client denies the allegations ... he will be vindicated," Cassar said.

Suffolk prosecutor Kristin Barnes told Horowitz that both defendants had lengthy criminal records and spent years in prison on drug charges.

Harris’ record includes a 2017 drug conviction in Nassau County. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison and released in December 2024, Barnes said — and was on postrelease supervision during the investigation that led to his arrest.

Porter also has a "significant" criminal record and was on postrelease supervision during much of the investigation, Barnes said.

The defendants were arrested on Sept. 16 at a Lafayette Avenue home in Amityville. According to court records, the home, where the men stored narcotics and conducted drug transactions, was Harris’ residence. Papa said in court that Harris now lives in West Babylon.

Authorities interrupted a sale of a kilo of cocaine during the arrest, and later seized cocaine and cash, Barnes said.

The investigation into the drug ring was conducted by Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office, Suffolk police, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Barnes said. Authorities gathered an "overwhelming" amount of evidence during the investigation, including electronic surveillance and cellphone wiretaps.

The evidence includes conversations the men had about the quality and quantity of their products and how they would distribute them across Suffolk County, the prosecutor said.

Porter is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 14. Harris is scheduled to return on Oct. 13.