Former NYC Basketball Star Was ‘Kingpin of Massive Heroin Ring’, DA Says

0
2180
Photo Source: CNN

Operation Distributed 2 Million Glassines in a Three-Month Period;
Four Charged as Major Traffickers under State Kingpin Statute

13 people have been charged by felony complaints in connection with the operation of a major heroin distribution ring. Former NCAA and ABA basketball player James “Fly” Williams allegedly directed the operation as it purchased narcotics from suppliers in the Bronx and re-sold them, in bulk and retail quantities, in various Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Brownsville, Bushwick, Flatbush and Fort Greene.

 

The Acting District Attorney said that the defendants were arrested yesterday and are being arraigned on criminal complaints. James (“Fly”) Williams, Jeffrey Britt (“Doobie”), Hanziel Martinez Cintron (“Johnny”), and Richard Rivera (“Cristiano”) were each charged with operating as a major trafficker in violation of the state’s drug kingpin statute, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison, as well as with first- and third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and related counts.

WABC
WABC

The Acting District Attorney said that the investigation was conducted between September 2016 and May 2017, and relied on undercover buys, physical surveillance, and court-ordered electronic intercepts. As alleged, between late January and late April, the ring circulated about 2 million glassines of heroin. A glassine typically has a street value of between $6 and $10.

It is alleged that Rivera supplied the narcotics to Cintron, who cut and packaged them under a single “brand,” distinguished by a logo on the glassines. Cintron allegedly sold the heroin to Britt either in the Bronx or in Brooklyn. According to the complaints, Britt then distributed the drugs at Williams’s direction, using a network of street dealers under their control, as well as a number of redistributors operating in upstate counties and other locations in the metropolitan area. The street dealers are accused of selling the heroin to customers in several Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Brownsville, Bushwick, Flatbush, Fort Greene, and East New York. Many of the transactions took place in the vicinity of the Brownsville Recreation Center on Linden Boulevard.

Britt and Tyrone Munford allegedly collected proceeds from the ring’s sales on a regular basis and transferred them to Williams. Leezet Kelley is accused of assisting Williams with the subsequent management of the funds and other administrative tasks the operation required.

Search warrants that were executed yesterday led to the recovery of six firearms, over $185,000 in cash, approximately two kilos of heroin and additional 13,667 glassines. Five additional individuals were arrested during the execution of the search warrants.

Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “These defendants had no consideration of the harm suffered by so many from the dangerous narcotics they allegedly peddled. They just cared about making money, exploiting addicts and the heroin epidemic that is spreading throughout our communities with devastating results. This is the second takedown of a major opioids ring by the NYPD and my Office in as many months, showing our resolve to tackle this problem head on with all of our resources. I am determined to continue targeting narcotic distribution rings while introducing innovative strategies to stem the demand by providing opportunities for eligible defendants to get help with their addiction and hopefully turn their lives around.”

Commissioner O’Neill said, “As alleged, the quantity of heroin trafficked by the defendants speaks to the seriousness of the epidemic we are facing. The NYPD will continue to arrest people who profit on those addicted to opioids. I want to commend the NYPD detectives and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office for the work that led to today’s charges.”

Facebook Comments