Twenty-One Defendants Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Committing Narcotics And Firearms Offenses In Sullivan County

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James R. Farrell, the Sullivan County District Attorney, Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Joseph A. D’Amico, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), Michael A. Schiff, the Sullivan County Sheriff, Scott Kinne, the Chief of the Village of Liberty Police, and Robert Mir, the Chief of the Village of Monticello Police Department, today announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging a total of 21 defendants with committing various narcotics and firearms offenses in the Village of Liberty, Sullivan County, New York.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Drugs destroy lives, rip apart families, and fuel a cycle of addiction and violence in our communities.  With the federal drug and gun charges brought today, we seek to incapacitate two different drug rings that have for years been selling heroin and crack cocaine, and protecting their business with guns, in Sullivan County and specifically, in the Village of Liberty.”

Sullivan County District Attorney James R. Farrell stated: “The investigation into the distribution of dangerous narcotics in Sullivan County by local, county, state and federal law enforcement continues to move forward, at full speed, with the twenty-one arrests made today.  Those who traffic in dangerous narcotics in Sullivan County are on notice that all law enforcement agencies, at every level, are working together, every single day, to put you out of business and to hold you accountable for your actions through investigation, arrest and prosecution.” 

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez stated: “Heroin is spreading through our communities like a cancer.  It brings with it alleged pushers who use crime and weapons to defend their so called turf, in this case targeting people outside of a drug recovery treatment center of all places.  The FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners won’t let the disease grow and infect neighborhoods and hamlets in Sullivan County and beyond.”

NYSP Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico stated: “The combined efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement have put this operation out of business and disrupted the sale of heroin and cocaine in Sullivan County.  This case continues our commitment and partnership to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone who tries to sell these dangerous drugs in our communities.”

Sullivan County Sheriff Michael A. Schiff stated: “Many of our residents have expressed concern over the apparent narcotics activity in their towns and villages. We have heard you loud and clear. Today’s joint law enforcement operation is an attempt to restore the quality of life that our citizens have come to expect and deserve. Make no mistake, we will use every resource available, whether it be Federal, State or local, to find those who are peddling poison to our children and bring them to justice.”

Village of Liberty Police Chief Scott Kinne stated: “Todays arrests are part of the ongoing commitment and cooperation of all of Sullivan County’s law enforcement agencies to investigate and arrest the dealers and distributers who sell heroin and other controlled substances on our streets.  This investigation will have a significant impact on drug sales and other crimes in the Village of Liberty, these types of investigations and arrests make Liberty a safer community, I thank all the agencies who work with us to help rid our communities of drugs and violence.”

Village of Monticello Police Chief Robert Mir stated: “The village of Monticello police department will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in investigating, arresting and successfully prosecuting the indivuals that supply the dangerous drugs that are causing so much misery in our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court[1]:

In at least 2015 and 2016, KYLE JAMES, a/k/a “Killa,” 30, JAMAR SHAW, a/k/a “Double R,” 33, DANIEL FRANCO, a/k/a “Young Papi,” 26, RASHAWN PERRY, a/k/a “Cass,” 29, NORDIA TOMPKINS, a/k/a “Nadia,” 31, JUAN MONTERO, a/k/a “Chino,” 37, LOREN PERRY, a/k/a “Skip,” 41, HERBERT MURPHY, a/k/a “Superb,” a/k/a “Perb,” a/k/a “Alan,” a/k/a “Herbie,” 42, GRADY BLACKMON, 57, CANDICE BROOKINS, 29, ASHLEY EDWARDS, 19, DAVID GUZMAN, 18, PATRICK HILLIARD, 23, CHERYL JERNIGAN, 26, ARIK PERKINS, 22, KEVIN PRIMIANO, 41, MANUEL RIVERA, 20, and NICOLE SNEDEKER, 25, conspired to sell one kilogram or more of heroin.  The conspiracy was led, at different times, by JAMES and SHAW.  Members of the conspiracy distributed heroin in and around the Village of Liberty, New York and other locations in Sullivan County, New York.  Members of the conspiracy regularly sold heroin in the parking lots of businesses, including a nursing home and a drug recovery center, in the Village of Liberty. 

In April 2016, JAMES and LOREN PERRY used, carried, and possessed a firearm in furtherance of the heroin conspiracy in which they were both members.

In at least 2015 and 2016, RICHIERAY SUCCI, 35, MONTERO, JONATHAN PAGAN, a/k/a “JP,” 24, and JASON WOOD, 32, conspired to sell 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and SUCCI, MONTERO, and WOOD conspired to sell 100 grams or more of heroin.  Members of the conspiracy distributed crack and heroin in and around the Village of Liberty.

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All 21 defendants were taken into federal custody this morning.  These defendants will be presented in White Plains federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.                                     

Charts containing the names of the defendants who were charged today, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, are attached.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the New York State Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, the Village of Monticello Police Department, the Village of Liberty Police Department, the Town of Fallsburg Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Mr. Bharara also thanked the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office for its ongoing assistance in the case.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Beidel, Maurene Comey, Michael Gerber, and Won Shin are in charge of the prosecution.

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

United States v. Kyle James, et al., 16 Mag. 2293