Fentanyl-laced pills and illegal firearms seized in Brooklyn trafficking case

A long-term investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office and the NYPD has culminated in the indictment of eight individuals accused of operating a drug and firearm trafficking ring in Brooklyn. 

The 156-count indictment details the sale of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl alongside cocaine distribution and illegal firearms trafficking. Authorities seized more than 5,000 counterfeit pills, 1.3 kilograms of cocaine and multiple firearms, including a high-capacity magazine.

The investigation uncovered that the group’s activities were centered around the Glenwood Houses in Brooklyn, where alleged ringleader Jadin Ruth managed sales of narcotics and firearms. 

Ruth sourced counterfeit oxycodone pills from suppliers Shawn Wiltshire and Christopher McMillian while securing large quantities of cocaine from Haashim McCorkle, Huby Ramkissoon and Stanley Laureano. These pills, which mimicked prescription oxycodone, were sold on the street under the names “whites” and “pinks” to unsuspecting buyers.

“Disguising fentanyl in fake prescription pills puts vulnerable New Yorkers who are already suffering through opioid addiction at even greater risk,” said Attorney General James. “Taking deadly counterfeit pills, guns and other narcotics off the street and dismantling the networks selling them will help save lives.”

Intercepted communications revealed that Ruth frequently coordinated drug pickups and payments via phone calls and text messages, often meeting suppliers at a nearby bodega. Over several months, investigators documented numerous transactions and eventually seized more than 5,000 counterfeit pills and 1.3 kilograms of cocaine with a combined street value of nearly $80,000.

In addition to drug trafficking, the group was involved in illegal firearm sales. Another conspiracy in the indictment details how Ramkissoon and Henry Jones sold a loaded firearm with two high-capacity magazines to Shawn Hill. Law enforcement intercepted the firearm before it could be circulated on the street.

The investigation also linked McCorkle to a shooting in March 2024 in Canarsie. Surveillance and intercepted communications revealed that McCorkle admitted to the shooting, boasting that he could have aimed for the victim’s head or chest but chose to shoot them in the hip from two blocks away. The victim required hospitalization for the gunshot wound.

The charges against the eight defendants include Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree. If convicted, the defendants face sentences ranging from seven to 24 years in prison, depending on their roles in the operation.

The takedown was the result of a coordinated effort by the Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division. The investigation utilized covert surveillance, undercover purchases, and the interception of communications to dismantle the network.