A major drug trafficking operation has been broken up in Jackson Heights, with the Queens District Attorney's Office indicting 16 individuals on a variety of charges, including conspiracy, drug trafficking, and other crimes. The defendants are accused of running an open-air drug market on 93rd Street, just two blocks from Roosevelt Avenue, with transactions happening at all hours, in a location disturbingly close to where families and residents carry out their daily lives, according to the Queens District Attorney's Office announcement.
District Attorney Melinda Katz highlighted the impact on the community, stating, "My office has prioritized addressing the pressing issues on and near Roosevelt Avenue to make sure that nearby families and residents are protected, as alleged, these defendants peddled deadly drugs on a residential street in Jackson Heights at all hours of the day," the investigation utilized undercover drug buys and electronic surveillance to accumulate evidence against the defendants, three of whom - Jonathan Mendoza, Brian Zamudio, and Moises Andon - are charged as major traffickers and could face life in prison if convicted of the top count, as per the Queens District Attorney's Office.
The undercover operations led to the purchase of approximately 200 grams of cocaine for around $10,400 and the seizure of over 300 grams of fentanyl, two kilos of cocaine, numerous firearms, scales, money counters, and over $30,000 in cash, NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch praised the collaborative effort to take down the ring, saying, "These individuals allegedly operated a brazen drug enterprise, running a 24-hour open-air market on a residential block in Jackson Heights and selling fentanyl, cocaine, meth, and other dangerous narcotics, including directly to undercover officers," as noted by the Queens District Attorney's Office.
The joint investigation, which included members of the NYPD's Queens North Narcotics and Homeland Security Investigations, has been celebrated as a turning point in reclaiming the neighborhood for law-abiding citizens; the Special Agent in Charge for HSI New York, Ricky J. Patel, highlighted the significance of the bust by stating, "These defendants are accused of a crime scheme that pumped dangerous drugs into our streets, putting lives at risk and eroding the fabric of our community. By dismantling this operation, HSI New York, together with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the NYPD, and our task force partners, has dealt a major blow against those who profit from addiction and chaos." Thirteen of the defendants have been arraigned, while one will be arraigned at a later date and two remain at large, the Queens District Attorney’s Office reported.
Assistant District Attorney Candice Smith, part of the team prosecuting the case, is working under the supervision of multiple layers within the District Attorney's Major Economic Crimes Bureau, highlighting the level of resources and thoroughness dedicated to combatting such egregious disruptions to neighborhood safety and order. The court dates for the indicted individuals are scheduled for various dates in January.
