4 arrested in Brooklyn after allegedly dealing cocaine out of Toyota Prius

BROOKLYN (WABC) -- Four people are under arrest after police say they were dealing cocaine out of a Toyota Prius in Brooklyn.

They are identified as Francisco Frias, his cousin Mario Frias, Mario's wife Victoria Rivera, and Rafael Velasquez.

The four particularly outraged Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson because the deals were allegedly made near the borough's courthouses in Downtown Brooklyn, as well as in Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill.

It is alleged that customers called a shared cell phone to place an order for cocaine or crack cocaine, which was then delivered to the buyer at an agreed upon location in exchange for cash.

"This alleged cocaine delivery ring had the audacity to sell crack cocaine right in the middle of the day and within the shadows of our courts," Thompson said. "Thanks to the efforts of the NYPD and my prosecutors, they are closed for business and will now be prosecuted in those same courts."

The suspects are variously charged in a 114-count indictment with second- and fourth-degree conspiracy; operating as a major trafficker; first-, second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance' second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds; second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia; second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and criminal possession of a firearm.

Victoria Rivera was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Shawndya Simpson, and bail was continued at $300,000. Rafael Velasquez was expected to be arraigned this afternoon. Francisco Frias and Mario Frias are scheduled to be arraigned on April 29, 2015. All four of the defendants are scheduled to return to court on May 28, 2015.

The three top defendants face 15 years to life in prison on the top count if convicted. Rivera faces up to 20 years in prison.

The district attorney said that, according to the investigation, between April 1, 2014 and April 1, 2015, in Downtown Brooklyn, as well as Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill, the defendants conspired to sell cocaine and crack cocaine, usually in $20, $40 and $140 bags. It is alleged that Francisco Frias was the leader of the crew and that his cousin, Mario Frias, and another man, Rafael Velasquez, worked as cocaine deliverymen. Victoria Rivera, who is Mario Frias' wife, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.

It is alleged that the three male defendants shared a Toyota Prius and a cell phone to operate the drug delivery service. Specifically, Mario Frias worked three days a week and was paid $600 and Rafael Velasquez worked four days a week and was paid $1,000. Francisco Frias allegedly worked as a deliveryman as needed.

It is alleged that customers placed orders for cocaine and crack cocaine over the shared cell phone and whoever was on call answered the phone and drove the Toyota Prius to deliver the order. The ring allegedly filled about 25 orders a day, 365 days a year, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., to more than 100 repeat customers.

The District Attorney said that the investigation was conducted using undercover officers, as well as video and wiretap surveillance and a GPS tracking device which was placed on the Prius. The defendants were arrested on April 1, 2015, and search warrants executed subsequently led to the recovery of more than 1.5 kilos of cocaine hidden under a bathroom vanity in the apartment of Mario Frias and Victoria Rivera. Also recovered were drug paraphernalia including a heat sealing device, a measuring cup with cocaine residue and scales. A search of the Toyota Prius, located in Staten Island, yielded 41 additional bags of cocaine and crack cocaine packaged for sale. A .25 caliber pistol was recovered from Velasquez's residence on Staten Island.