MUGSHOTS: 15 arrested in historic heroin, fentanyl, cocaine takedown on Staten Island

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Thursday, June 29, 2017

STATEN ISLAND, New York (WABC) -- A Staten Island man is facing charges in connection with a deadly overdose as a part of a major drug takedown on Staten Island that allegedly involved heroin, fentanyl, suboxone and cocaine.

The Richmond County District Attorney announced the indictments against 15 people Thursday. The group - some of them being alleged gang members - are accused of running an operation on the North Shore of Staten Island.

Investigators called the 11-month investigation "Operation Final Kut" and said it focused on a violent narcotics distribution operation in and around Port Richmond, New Brighton, and West Brighton.

One of the suspects arrested, Stephen Cummings, has been indicted on charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide for selling fentanyl to a person who later overdosed and died. It's the first time a New York City district attorney has brought such charges against a drug offender.

Click through the gallery above to see photos of all 15 suspects charged.

"These individuals helped to fuel the drug trade and contributed to gun violence that has plagued Staten Island, their actions causing nothing except pain and devastation in the midst of our hard-working communities as we battle this opioid epidemic," District Attorney Michael McMahon said.

Prosecutors said those in this drug network were also involved in 18 separate shootings on Staten Island and have a combined total of 19 gun-related arrests.

Those charged in the operation are: Jermaine Duncan, Beatrice Adegbenro, Kerry Connolly, Stephen Cummings, Joyce Fobbs, Jeremy Grant, Nelson Lugo, Raymond Lugo, Steven Medina, David Nieves, Paul Rainey, Allah Sears, Nelson Rivera, Anthony White, and Sean Whitted

Police executed search warrants at six different locations and confiscated ammunition, an imitation pistol, 392 glassines of heroin, approximately 110 grams of uncut heroin, cocaine and other drug paraphernalia.

The suspects were arraigned in a Staten Island courtroom Thursday.