7 Indicted In Montauk Drug Ring Crackdown: DA

MONTAUK, NY — Seven men were indicted Thursday for their involvement in the takedown of a Montauk drug distribution ring that led to the arrest of 17, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini.

A 33-count indictment was unsealed at the Arthur J. Cromarty Court in Riverside against the seven in connection with the Montauk narcotics ring, Sini said. The drug ring involved seasonal workers selling the drugs at popular Montauk bars and restaurants, he said.

“This indictment is the result of a months-long, multi-agency investigation that utilized electronic surveillance in addition to excellent investigative work by police officers and detectives to dismantle an alleged narcotics ring,” Sini said, thanking East Hampton Police. "The Montauk community had voiced concerns about drug dealing in the area, particularly during the summer months, and we listened."

The investigation, which began in March, revealed evidence of a conspiracy by the men to sell narcotics, including cocaine and oxycodone, to patrons in the Montauk businesses, Sini said.

Several of the men are seasonal workers in the service industry who lived together in rented houses or motels provided by their employers, and the investigation uncovered evidence that the men were using both the residences and the businesses where they were employed — including Swallow East, Six Six Eight the Gig Shack, the Shagwong Tavern, the Liar's Saloon, and O'Murphy's Pub & Restaurant — to sell the drugs, Sini said.

Five of the men were arraigned on the indictment Thursday in front of Suffolk County Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, Sini said.

Geraldo Vargas-Munoz, aka "Chelo", 37, of Montauk, was charged with operating as a major trafficker, a felony; first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; first degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; three counts of second degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; 12 counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; second degree conspiracy, a felony; and two counts of second degree criminally using drug, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

His bail was set at $1 million cash or $2 million bond.

If convicted of the top count, Vargas-Munoz faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The other defendants each face a maximum indeterminate sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, Sini said.

Elvin Silva-Ruiz, aka "Pito," 40, of Montauk, was charged with second degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; three counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; and second degree conspiracy, a felony, Sini said. Bail was set at $750,000 cash or $1.5 million bond.

William Crespo-Duran, aka "Flaco," 35, of Montauk, was charged with second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; second degree conspiracy, a felony; and two counts of second degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said. Bail was set at $750,000 cash or $1.5 million bond.

Antonio Ramirez-Gonzalez, aka "Tete," 30, of Montauk, was charged with second degree conspiracy, a felony, Sini said. Bail was set at $750,000 cash or $1.5 million bond.

Angel DeJesus-Rodriguez, 31, of Montauk, was charged with second degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; and second degree conspiracy, a felony, Sini said. He will be arraigned at a later date.

Gilberto Quintana-Crespo, aka "Jimmy," 32, of Montauk, was charged with second degree conspiracy, a felony, Sini said. Bail was set at $500,000 cash or $1 million bond.

Eric Mendez, 38, of Montauk, was charged with second degree conspiracy, a felony, Sini said. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 7.

The men received packages of drugs through the mail from locations in and outside of the continental United States; an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service resulted in the seizure of a package of approximately 100 oxycodone and alprazolam pills addressed to one of the locations where the men were living — and a second package containing approximately $17,460 cash was mailed by the defendants as payment, Sini said.

On Aug. 15, detectives and police officers executed search warrants at five locations connected to the alleged narcotics distribution ring, Sini said.

The search warrants resulted in the arrest of 17 individuals, including six of the defendants named in the indictment, and the seizure of approximately $100,000 cash; approximately 700 grams of cocaine; marijuana; various pills, including alprazolam and hydrocodone; and assorted drug paraphernalia, including a kilo press, cutting agents, cell phones, digital scales and packaging materials, Sini said.

Those arrested in connection with the search warrants include:

Kevin Becker, 30, of Montauk, pleaded guilty to fourth degree conspiracy, a felony, on Aug. 28, Sini said. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 31.

John DeMelio, 32, of Montauk, pleaded guilty to fourth degree conspiracy, a felony, on Aug. 29, Sini said. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Thomas Harwood, 25, of Montauk, was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

Louis Madariaga-Medina, 31, of Montauk, was charged with two counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

Israel Padilla-Rosas, 33, of Montauk, was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

Nawar Qanbar, 32, of Montauk, was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

Gilbert Rodriguez-Mendez, 41, of Montauk, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, Sini said.

Bryan Ruiz-Sanchez, 22, of Montauk, was charged with second degree conspiracy, a felony, Sini said.

Alex Joel Tirado-Rivera, 32, of Montauk, was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, Sini said.

John Valentin-Doherty, 30, of Montauk, was charged with seven counts of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, Sini said.

Bracklie Vargas-Gonzalez, 24, of Montauk, was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, Sini said.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William Nash, of the narcotics bureau and the special narcotics unit, Sini said.

"These tourist locations thrive during the summer months, providing this organization an expanded client base from Memorial Day to Labor Day," Sini said. "Given their control over the drug market in Montauk, these co-conspirators were able to charge significantly inflated prices for their illegal products, which included cocaine and oxycodone."

DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge James Hunt commended all those who worked to crack down on the drug ring. "One thing is clear, the wrong kind of traffic was coming to Montauk, NY," he said. "Traffickers who send narcotics through the mail and distribute within restaurants and bars endanger every person and community along the way. It's time that these defendants are held accountable for their brazen actions."

East Hampton Police Chief Michael Sarlo spole out on the drug crackdown: "The professional and persistent investigative work by patrol officers and detectives of the EHTPD initiated this case, and our officers were instrumental in bringing down this extensive narcotics ring. We are thankful for the assistance provided by the District Attorney's office, the DEA and our other law enforcement partners through the East End Drug Task Force. Montauk and the town of East Hampton are safer today and we are thankful for the support."

He added: "The distribution of dangerous narcotics throughout our town, and specifically in Montauk during the extremely crowded summer months, has long been a focus of our department's enforcement efforts, and I personally want to commend and thank the officers who put in a tremendous amount of work, time and initiative into developing the intelligence that was needed to bring this case to a close. Your efforts are truly commendable and represent the best of what law enforcement and public service is about."

Patch file photo by Lisa Finn.