A half-dozen men from southeast Queens were indicted along with four others following a long-term investigation into a Jamaica-based drug trafficking operation that reached into Nassau County, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
The ten defendants allegedly sold cocaine, heroin and fentanyl out of a Jamaica social club and other locations. The investigation resulted in the seizure of 10 kilos of cocaine with a street value in excess of $250,000.
The defendants were charged in a 69-count indictment with conspiracy, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance and other crimes.
More than 10 kilos of cocaine and a loaded 9 mm Ruger firearm were recovered after court-authorized search warrants were executed in southeast Queens and Nassau County.Photo courtesy of DA’s office
Defendant Jean-Pierre Martell, 44, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Gary Miret on June 25. Three defendants were arraigned on June 15 and five more were arraigned two days later, all before Justice Miret. One defendant will be arraigned at a later date.
“We are committed to ending the scourge of overdoses by targeting those who sell deadly drugs on our street,” Katz said.
According to the charges and investigation, the DA’s office and the NYPD’s Narcotics Bureau Queens South launched an investigation in November 2022 into drug trafficking based in Jamaica. The alleged traffickers operated at several locations, including the Spizot, an unlicensed social club at 105-13 177th St. in Jamaica. In addition to cocaine and heroin, the defendants also sold heroin that was sometimes mixed with fentanyl or other substances, and a generic version of Xanax.
The organization had multiple layers with defendant Ralph Tindall, 52, allegedly storing the drugs in his Jamaica home and defendant Emmanuel Pope, 42, of Hollis, allegedly working as a street level dealer. Defendant Fred Fulton, 63, of Laurelton, was a supplier who allegedly obtained cocaine from defendant Castell Brown, 54, of Roosevelt in Nassau County. Defendant Kevin Gaines, 63, of St. Albans, allegedly supplied defendant William Bell, 49, of Jamaica, with heroin and arranged cocaine sales.
Defendant Leo Smith, 57, of South Ozone Park, allegedly sold large quantities of heroin and cocaine to an undercover officer starting with 20 glassine envelopes purported to contain heroin for $120 and then increasing to 150 grams of heroin for $6,750. Laboratory tests showed that the heroin was mixed with fentanyl and other substances.
Undercover officers made multiple buys of drugs from January 2025 through April. Court-authorized search warrants were executed at the defendants’ homes resulting in the seizure of 10 kilos of cocaine and a loaded 9 mm Ruger pistol as well as more than $15,000 in cash at a house in Roosevelt. More than 500 grams of fentanyl was seized in a Queens home and drug paraphernalia including a press, scales and empty plastic bags.
Defendant Kamal Lambus, 43, of Hempstead in Nassau County, was also arraigned on an indictment.
“As alleged, these defendants trafficked cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs,” Katz said. “One defendant was charged with operating as a major drug trafficker and faces up to life in prison, if convicted.”
That would be defendant Castell Brown from Roosevelt, Long Island. The other defendants are facing prison terms of nine to 20 years, if convicted.
“I thank members of my Strategic Investigations Bureau and the NYPD for their work in this case,” Katz said. “I also extend my gratitude to the undercover officers who risked their safety to gather critical evidence.”