Undercover Drug Buys Made In The Village Of Nyack; Pearl River Pizzeria Owner Snared In Crackdown; Majority of Defendants Face Up to 15 Years In Prison

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe and Orangetown Police Chief Kevin Nulty today announced the indictment of 12 individuals and the filing of criminal charges against two others on drug-related charges following a six-month undercover investigation in the Village of Nyack, Pearl River and Tappan.

The defendants - who range in age from 20 to 51 - were arrested during a pre-dawn sweep today and are charged with selling powdered and crack cocaine, marijuana and prescription narcotics to undercover police officers on separate occasions over a six-month period. Most of the alleged buys took place in a one square-block area in Central Nyack, bordered by South Franklin Street, Depew Avenue, Liberty Avenue and Hudson Avenue.

District Attorney Zugibe said, “This initiative - dubbed Operation Deadliest Ghost - is another in our continuing campaign to stop the plague of drug-dealing and drug-based violence in the Village of Nyack. These arrests underscore our commitment to improve the quality of life for all residents in Rockland County.”

Chief Nulty said, “Our officers will return time and again to areas where drug dealers are working to gain a foothold. These arrests make Nyack a safer village by putting drug dealers in jail.”

Operation Deadliest Ghost is the latest in a series of large-scale investigations into open air drug dealing in and around Central Nyack.

Operation Ghostrider began in April, 2008 following complaints from residents of drug dealing and drug-related violence in and around the Nyack senior citizen and apartment complexes on each side of Depew Avenue. The investigation centered on the "Building 3 Crew," referring to men who gathered behind Building 3 on Hudson Avenue in the Nyack Plaza apartments.

With the assistance of The Rockland County Drug Task Force, along with the Orangetown Police Department Detective Bureau and Uniform Patrol, South Nyack Grandview Police Department, New York State Police CNET Unit, New York State Police K-9 Unit, the Rockland County Intelligence Unit, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department, Spring Valley Police Department, New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-31, Clarkstown Police Department and New York State Hud Agents.

In April, 2010, the ongoing crackdown of illegal drug sales in Nyack continued with Operation Deadliest Catch. This second phase of the probe led to criminal charges against 20 individuals for selling powdered and crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Rockland County.

During the course of all three investigations, through a combination of investigative means – including court-authorized electronic surveillance and the use of undercover officers – members of the Rockland County Drug Task Force and New York State Police C-Net purchased narcotics on dozens of occasions, seized powdered and crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, drug packaging materials, cash, semi-automatic weapons and bulletproof vests.

During each probe, it was discovered that some defendants used local children as “lookouts,” to ensure the area was free of police before peddling their illegal product.

Said Zugibe, “These arrests spotlight Community Prosecution at its best. Without the exchange of information between local residents and police, these defendants might still be pushing their poison on the streets of Rockland County. The result of this joint investigation should be a welcome relief to the residents of Central Nyack, who have endured illegal drug trafficking near their homes for too long.

Unrelated to the drug dealing in Central Nyack, Operation Deadliest Ghost took members of the Drug Task Force into other sections of Orangetown.

In one case, the owner 3 Daughters Pizzeria in Pearl River is charged with selling OxyCodone and marijuana from the business, located at 83A North Middletown Road. William Peck (DOB 05/08/62) is charged with numerous counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class “B” Felony punishable by up to nine years in prison.

Michael Leone, (12/24/88) an employee of 3 Daughters Pizzeria, is accused of hand-to-hand narcotics dealing inside the restaurant and in its parking lot. In addition, a Search Warrant was executed at the residence of Michael Jackson, 250 Fifth Avenue, Apartment 2B, Nyack, New York. The search revealed an additional amount of crack-cocaine and approximately eight hundred dollars in United States Currency ($800.00).

Two other defendants are accused of selling the prescription drug Klonopin (Clonazepam) and powder cocaine in Tappan.

The 12 defendants are variously charged with numerous counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class” B” Felony, punishable by up to nine years in prison; Criminal Sale of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Disorderly Conduct, violations punishable by a fine of up to $100.

Under the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, non-resident suspects arrested for drug dealing on public housing grounds are banned from the premises and will be arrested if they return. If the suspected drug dealer is a resident of the development, he will be targeted for eviction.

The investigation continues into the reach and scope of the illicit operation and further arrests will be made.

Michael Jackson 250 Fifth Avenue Apt. 2B Nyack, NY DOB: 8/8/1977 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts

Geremy Curry aka Stiltz 1 Berachah Road Nyack, NY DOB: 12/31/1981 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts

Ricky Simmons 1914 Mayflower Avenue Bronx, NY DOB: 2/11/1965 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts

Eugene Taylor 606 Nyack Plaza Nyack, NY DOB: 6/17/1980 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts

Rakeem Whatley 603 Nyack Plaza Nyack, NY DOB: 4/12/1975 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree Operation Deadliest Ghost 1/20/2011

Kenneth Gurrier 58 Summit St. Apt. 1 Nyack, NY DOB: 11/28/1971 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts

Larnell Fortere 408 Nyack Plaza Nyack, NY DOB: 8/30/1990 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree – 2 counts

James Felz 132 Dexter Avenue Pearl River, NY DOB : 7/26/1990 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree – 2 counts

Darrel Avant 53 Gesner Drive Spring Valley, NY DOB: 8/29/1990 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree – 2 counts Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree – 2 counts

Maryann White Reintree Motel Congers, NY DOB: 12/7/1957 Charges: Criminal Facilitation

William Peck 10 Glenmere Court Monsey, NY DOB: 5/8/1962 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree

Michael Leone aka Leroy 194 Ehrhart Road Pearl River, NY DOB: 12/24/1988 Charges: Criminal Sale Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree Criminal Possession Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree Criminal Sale Marijuana in the 5th Degree – 2 counts Unlawful Possession of Marijuana – 2 counts