BROOKLYN, NY — Eight people have been arrested and charged with a 156-count indictment for trafficking oxycodone, fentanyl, cocaine, and guns in Brooklyn, Attorney General Letitia James said on Wednesday.
The indictment charges the suspects — six of which are Brooklynites — with multiple crimes related to a drug and gun trafficking network in Brooklyn.
During the investigation, officials seized more than 5,000 fake oxycodone pills laced with two kilograms of fentanyl and 1.3 grams of cocaine, in addition to three guns and a high-capacity magazine, the attorney general’s office said.
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“Disguising fentanyl in fake prescription pills puts vulnerable New Yorkers who are already suffering through opioid addiction at even greater risk,” James said. “Taking deadly counterfeit pills, guns, and other narcotics off the street and dismantling the networks selling them will help save lives.”
According to James, the street value of the seized fentanyl is estimated at $40,000, while the cocaine is valued at $39,000.
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The defendants have been identified as Jadin Ruth, 23, Shawn Wiltshire, 38, Haashim McCorkle, 46, Huby Ramkissoon, 49, Stanley Laureano, 38, Christopher McMillian, 20, Shawn Hill, 54 and Henry Jones, also known as Henry James, 56.
“My office and our partners in law enforcement continue to use every tool at our disposal to tackle the opioid crisis and keep communities safe from gun violence,” James said.
In the first indictment unsealed at the Kings Country Supreme Court, Ruth, Wiltshire, McCorkle, Ramkissoon, McMillian, and Laureano all face drug and firearm trafficking charges and could face between 20 to 24 years in prison if convicted. Ruth is also charged with selling guns, which could add seven more years to his sentence.
Ramkissoon and Jones are also accused of selling a firearm with high-capacity magazines to Shawn Hill, who could all now face seven to 15 years in prison if convicted.
In a second indictment unsealed on Wednesday, James said McCorkle is also charged for his involvement in a March 2024 shooting in Canarsie.
“Today’s indictments have exposed a network of individuals who stand accused of participating in the unlawful trade of firearms and drugs within our communities,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon. “The NYPD, in collaboration with the Attorney General’s office, will persist in our dedicated efforts until all those who prioritize illicit gains over the safety and well-being of New Yorkers are identified and brought to justice.”
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