STATEN ISLAND — One of Staten Island's biggest heroin rings has been taken down after a two-year investigation that could send its accused kingpins to prison for life, law enforcement officials announced.
Louis Carballo, 35, of Queens, and Joseph Brefo-Sarpong, 35, of Manhattan, were indicted for running one of the oldest and most profitable drug-trafficking networks in the borough, possessing and selling more than $75,000 worth of heroin in less than six months, District Attorney Michael McMahon said.
"Today’s major takedown will deal a devastating blow to the borough’s drug trade and make Staten Island a safer place," McMahon said in a statement.
"The defendants arrested today allegedly ran one of the largest heroin distribution rings in the borough, peddling their product on residential streets, in and around shopping centers and near train stations from Dongan Hills to Tottenville."
Carballo and Brefo-Sarpong were hit with a 47 charges Wednesday following a two-year investigation, prosecutors said.
They were the first to be charged with operating as a major trafficker, referred to as the "Drug Kingpin" statute, in Staten Island and could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted, McMahon said.
The pair — along with Michael Ward, Christopher Baldassano and Jonathan Lindenmuth — ran a heroin ring in which dealers would sell drugs outside fast-food restaurants, shopping centers, stores, residential streets and near train stations throughout the borough, prosecutors said.
"This focused investigation was successful in bringing down the people responsible for distributing this poison, in building a strong case that will hopefully help put a dent in New York's illegal heroin trade and sends a message to others who may consider doing so," NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a statement.
As part of the investigation — dubbed "Broken Boulevard," because dealers would sell along Hylan Boulevard — officers confiscated 948 glassine envelopes of heroin, about $28,000 in cash and two guns, McMahon said.
Melissa Buscemi, Sabrina Lindenmuth, Devin Ferrari, Juaquin Freire, Alfronso Manzo and Tiffany Morales were also arrested during the execution of search warrants, prosecutors said.
