Suffolk, Nassau men arrested in federal drug bust
Federal prosecutors have charged four Long Island men with running a cocaine distribution ring that imported the drug directly from California and sold it throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, officials said.
The ring had a large enough network to afford buying multiple kilograms of the drug for $300,000 at a time from Latin American wholesale dealers in California, sources familiar with the case said.
Police uncovered the ring when an Illinois state trooper stopped a speeding vehicle with New York plates on Interstate 80 on Wednesday, according to court papers.
The trooper who stopped the Toyota Venezia then found that the driver, Byron Odom, 45, of 777 County Line Rd., Amityville, had a suspended license, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Central Islip. A search of Odom's vehicle uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden built-in compartment in the car's trunk.
A subsequent investigation by Suffolk County detectives and agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration led to the arrest of the other three men. In addition to the kilos of cocaine, law enforcement officers also seized more than 100 grams of crack, an ounce of "black tar" heroin, almost $20,000 in cash, two handguns, and two vehicles with traps used to hide drugs, according to officials.
Officials said the probe into the suppliers was continuing. Sources familiar with the case said it was "unusual" for a relatively small, locally based ring to regularly have enough cash to purchase cocaine directly from a wholesaler across the country.
The other three suspects were identified in court records as Robert Blount, 41, of 20 Royal Court Rd., Roosevelt; Athrondre Dennard, 34, of 243 Columbus Ave., North Babylon; and Shaun Ross, 35, of 38 Crowell St., Hempstead.
All four pleaded not guilty at arraignment late Friday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip to charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Magistrate Kathleen Tomlinson held them without bail.
If convicted the four face 10 years to life in prison.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
