Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging 12 members of a crew operating in and around the Murphy Houses and the Lambert Houses in the Bronx with participating in a narcotics conspiracy. 

A total of eight defendants were taken into custody today; seven were arrested in the Bronx, and one defendant was arrested in Delaware.  Four defendants remain at large.  The seven defendants arrested in the Bronx will be presented and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott later today.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.   

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, the defendants conspired to sell narcotics in a number of locations, including the Murphy Houses, a NYCHA development.  NYCHA residents, and all New Yorkers, should be free to go about their daily lives free from the scourge of narcotics trafficking.  Thanks to the excellence of our partners at HSI and the NYPD, these defendants now face federal charges for bringing drugs to our buildings and to our streets.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “These crew members allegedly pushed crack cocaine and heroin in low income neighborhoods of the Bronx.  The alleged dealers have no regard for their neighbors as long as they are making a profit, which is why we will continue to partner with NYPD in these investigations to remove the drugs, and those who push it, off city streets.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “Today’s indictment is a perfect example of how well the law enforcement community works together to dismantle drug organizations and put these criminals behind bars.  Removing them from our streets sends a clear message to others who many choose to engage in similar activity.  These substances cause immeasurable damage in our neighborhoods, and we will remain vigilant in our commitment to expose and arrest anyone who poses such a threat to the safety of New Yorkers.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers and proceedings[1]:

*          *          *

From 2016 up to June 2018, KAWAIN NELSON, a/k/a “Kobe,” a/k/a “Kobi,” a/k/a “Slope,” JAMES CROOMS, a/k/a “Butter,” ANTHONY CORLEY, a/k/a “Tone,” ALBERT COLLINS, a/k/a “A,” DARRELL HUDSON, a/k/a “Skip,” JONATHAN PADILLA, SILVIO CIPRIAN, a/k/a “T.P.,” LAMAR GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Louch,” JACKIE COOPER, a/k/a “Jack,” SHARON HATCHER, ALLEN WALKER, a/k/a “Fat Boy,” and EFRAIN REYES, a/k/a “Stone,” participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana in and around the Murphy Houses, a public housing complex, and the Lambert Houses, an affordable housing development, in the Bronx. 

A chart containing the names and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD’s Bronx Violent Crimes Squad.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Krissoff, Gina Castellano, and Frank Balsamello are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.       



COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Narcotics

Conspiracy

 

21 U.S.C. § 846





KAWAIN NELSON, 32

JAMES CROOMS, 31

ANTHONY CORLEY, 35

ALBERT COLLINS, 28

DARRELL HUDSON, 28

JONATHAN PADILLA, 29

SILVIO CIPRIAN, 30

LAMAR GRIFFIN, 28

JACKIE COOPER, 53

SHARON HATCHER, 51

ALLEN WALKER, 38

EFRAIN REYES, 49

 





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison



 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.