Three Queens residents were among 12 people, including eight suspected members of a drug ring, arrested last week as authorities broke up what they called “a heroin highway” between the borough and eastern Long Island.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly on Friday said the main defendants include alleged ring leader Jermel Broadhurst, 30, of 29th Street in Astoria; Chelene Nelson, 24, also of 29th Street in Astoria; and Marcos Feliciano, 47, of Far Rockaway.
Others arrested included Broadhurst’s cousin, Shandell Crabb, 36, of Brooklyn; Kenneth Kirkland, 25; Melissa Franqui 20; Denise Martinez, 21; Carmen Donatiu, 48; Esteban Bello, 27; Wilfred Ortiz, 41; Patrick Fortune, 21; and Tneka Rios, 32, all of Brooklyn.
Brown and Kelly said 90 people from Suffolk County and 15 from Nassau have been arrested in the last year for allegedly traveling to Queens to purchase drugs from the group.
During the investigation, police seized more than 8,000 glassine envelopes of heroin, more than five kilograms of heroin, 2.7 kilograms of cocaine, five pistols, a shotgun and an assault rifle, drug paraphernalia and undisclosed amounts of hydrocondone, cyclobenzene, Ecstasy and marijuana.
Broadhurst was charged with operating as a major trafficker, nine counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and nine weapons-related charges. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Bello was charged with sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy. Crabb was arrested on multiple counts of sale of a controlled substance and weapons charges. Donatiu was charged with sale of a controlled substance.
Feliciano was arrested on weapons charges. Fortune was charged with sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy. Franqui was charged with sale of a controlled substance, criminal facilitation, possession of a controlled substance, use of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of marijuana and a weapon possession charge.
Martinez was charged with criminal facilitation. Nelson was charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance. Ortiz was charged with one count of third-degree possession of a controlled substance. Rios was charged with five counts of weapons possession.
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