Long-Term Undercover Investigation Leads To Take Down Of NYC Street Gang: NYPD

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NYPD NEWS

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, joined by New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, announced today that nine alleged members of the 97th Street Trinitarios and #Hot97Boyz street gangs are facing multiple counts of drug and weapons charges following a long-term investigation, which included undercover police successfully purchasing firearms and illicit drugs, including cocaine and heroin laced with Fentanyl, from the defendants between August 2016 and May 2018.

District Attorney Brown said, “A morning wake-up call by the police armed with court-authorized search warrants early yesterday morning resulted in the arrest of 18 individuals and the seizure of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, including marihuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, scales, packaging and over $80,000 in cash. Police also confiscated a machete and five vehicles. These arrests should serve as a warning to drug dealers and gang members who operate in New York City that law enforcement is coming for you. We will continue to aggressively track down those who flood our community with illegal drugs and guns and put them behind bars.”

Police Commissioner O’Neill said, “Each day, our efforts to rid New York City streets of illegal narcotics and associated gang and crew violence are made stronger and more precise through our law enforcement partnerships.
I commend everyone involved in this long-term case, particularly the NYPD detectives who put themselves directly in harm’s way. Our nation’s best investigators will continue to focus intently on anyone who chooses to engage in this illicit behavior.”
District Attorney Brown identified the main defendants as Oscar “Diddy” Urena, 35, of Jackson Heights; Jesus “Junior” Mota, 34, of College Point; and Dionis “Moz” Fernandez, 23, of Whitestone. Additionally, Joseph “Jay” Payamps, 23, of Corona, was arrested following a court-authorized search of his residence yesterday where police allegedly seized $62,337 in cash and 240 grams of cocaine along with scales, packaging and kilo presses. These defendants and 14 others are presently awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on various complaints charging them with criminal possession of controlled substances, criminal possession of a weapon and other alleged crimes. (see Addendum for details).

District Attorney Brown said that the investigation leading to the arrests was a joint undertaking between the NYPD’s Queens Gang Unit and District Attorney Brown’s Narcotics Investigations Bureau and utilized undercover NYPD detectives who allegedly made more than 35 successful narcotics purchases, as well as three gun buys, between August 2016 and May 2018. Investigators recovered two loaded 9mm firearms, a loaded .22 caliber handgun, a stun gun, cocaine, thousands of Tramadol pills, marihuana, heroin laced with Fentanyl and eight vehicles.

According to the charges, said District Attorney Brown, the alleged gang members operated primarily in the Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights neighborhoods of Queens. Utilizing court-authorized wire taps, investigators were able to eavesdrop on telephone conversations between several of the defendants. On June 20, 2017, an apprehended other called Urena and stated “I want a hard one and two rices.” The defendant allegedly responded, “Ok, two and one,” and a few minutes later Urena was observed meeting with the apprehended other followed by a hand-to-hand exchange. The other individual walked away and a few blocks away was stopped by a detective, who recovered one plastic bag containing a rock of crack cocaine and two plastic bags with powder cocaine enclosed.

Continuing, the District Attorney said, that the criminal complaints detail several dozen instances where undercover investigators were able to successfully purchase illegal drugs from the defendants, as well as guns. On April 28, 2017, it is alleged that an undercover detective met with defendant Urena and paid $940 for a black Jimenez Arms 9mm semi-automatic firearm along with 11 rounds of ammunition. The defendant is also alleged to have provided the “buyer” with a bag of marijuana.

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