Brooklyn man found guilty in major trafficking case involving fentanyl, Suffolk DA says
A Brooklyn man faces possible life in prison after being convicted in Suffolk County Supreme Court on charges he was a major drug trafficker — one the Suffolk district attorney said had enough fentanyl in his possession to potentially kill 1 million people in the county.
Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said that from Aug. 27, 2019, to May 19, 2020, Keston Braithwaite, 39, operated as "a major supplier of a multimillion dollar narcotics distribution network" with a stash house on Southport Street in Ronkonkoma.
Suffolk County police arrested Braithwaite on May 19, 2020, by at his home in Brooklyn.
Execution of a search warrant at the Ronkonkoma stash house led to a seizure of more than two kilograms of fentanyl, about one kilo of cocaine, six loaded firearms and what were described as "significant quantities of cutting agents, packaging materials, and digital scales," as well as a money counter — and about $20,000 in cash, authorities said.
"This defendant deliberately attempted to profit from the addictions of others by selling a product that had the potential to destroy countless of our Suffolk County residents' lives," Tierney said in a statement Tuesday.
Braithwaite's attorney, Sean Dixon of Hauppauge, said his client would appeal.
“While we respect the jury’s verdict, my client maintains his innocence and remains eager to pursue his appeal," Dixon said.
He was remanded following his conviction before Justice John B. Collins on 11 counts, including two counts of operating as a major drug trafficker/profiteer; second-degree conspiracy; second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for possessing five or more firearms; two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and more.
He faces 15 years to life on each of the two counts of operating as a drug trafficker, in addition to sentencing involving each of the other nine counts, the district attorney's office said.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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