18 Arrested For Drugs, Guns In Jackson Heights Gang Bust

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS -- Eighteen people - half of whom are reputed gang members - were busted with guns and drugs in a Jackson Heights bust, authorities announced Thursday.

Cops recovered a machete, more than $80,000 in cash and eight cars used to transport heroin, cocaine and other drugs during a Wednesday morning raid of the 97th Street Trinitarios and #Hot97Boyz gangs, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Nine alleged gang members of the two gangs were cuffed in the sting, along with nine others connected with the drug sales, Brown said. One gang member still remains at large.

"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," Brown said.

NYPD Deputy Inspector Donald Boller told reporters on Thursday that the takedown was the result of a 20-month investigation, known as "Operation Gang Green," into the Trinitarios, who operates primarily in Jackson Heights and Corona.

"They’re responsible for numerous acts of violence in Queens and also heavy narcotics trafficking," Boller said.

Members of the drug-dealing gang were also responsible for at least two nonfatal overdoses, he said.

In addition to wiretapping, undercover cops made more than 35 separate drug purchases - and bought three guns - from the gang members between August 2016 and May 2018, according to the criminal complaint.

"Power cocaine was the main source, but they also sold crack cocaine, heroin and there was some mixture of fentanyl, " Boller said.

Oscar "Diddy" Urena, 35, of Jackson Heights; Jesus "Junior" Mota, 34, of College Point; and Dionis "Moz" Fernandez, 23, of Whitestone were the main gang members charged in the case, Brown said.

Urena and Moz were arrested for criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon and other charges. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison.

Mota was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. He faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

Those men and the 15 others arrested in the sting are awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations also collaborated on the investigation.

Angel Melendez, the special agent in charge of NYC Homeland Security Investigations, said his office became involved in the operation while working with the Queens DA's office to bust people selling IDs, green cards and other documents.

"If you go to Roosevelt Avenue in Corona, Queens, you’re going to find those type of businesses that are readily available and willing to provide those type of services, so that was the initial focus of the HSI investigation," Melendez said.

"Once we joined the NYPD investigation, of course the result was much better."

Patch Reporter Noah Manskar contributed to this story.

(Lead photo courtesy of the NYPD)