Drug ring busted in the Bronx, 20 arrested

BRONX, NEW YORK (WABC) -- Twenty reputed drug dealers were arrested Wednesday morning at a housing project in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx.

The group, reported to be known as The River Park Towers Young Gunnerz (RPT YGz), are expected to be charged with narcotics trafficking.

Many of the suspects were taken into custody at the Riverview Houses on Sedgwick Avenue.

They are suspected of primarily dealing marijuana and crack cocaine.

One of the suspects, Tyrone Felder, said to be the former leader of the gang, is one of three men arrested last week in connection with a pair of livery driver murders. The other two suspects in those cases are identified as Jamal Walker and Tommy Smalls. The three of them also face firearms, carjacking and murder charges.

Authorities say 13 of the suspects, including the three who are currently in federal custody on the murder-related charges, will be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon. Two of the defendants are currently in state custody on unrelated state charges and will be presented upon their arrival to the Southern District of New York. Five defendants are still at large.

"As alleged, the defendants were associated with a violent gang that claimed an entire housing complex as its territory and held residents captive to their drug dealing and violent acts," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. "Thanks to the outstanding work of the NYPD, the residents of River Park Towers are safer today, and these 20 suspected gang members and drug dealers are being brought to justice."

According to the indictment, from at least 2010 through August 2014, the River Park Towers has been plagued by drug dealing and violence, driven in large part by gang activities. During that time period, the RPT YGz gang has distributed crack cocaine and marijuana, among other drugs, in and around the complex. Members have also engaged in robberies and various other acts of violence to protect their territory, assert their identity and further their illegal activities, including threatening, intimidating and assaulting the security guards who are assigned to protect the River Park Towers complex and who have tried to prevent the RPT YGz members from selling drugs in the area.

"These individuals conducted their illegal operation inside of the River Park Towers development, causing alarm to the law abiding residents that live in the area," NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said. "Thanks to the investigators and prosecutors who built and investigated this case, the message is clear, the NYPD will continue to target gangs who threaten the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers."

Prosecutors say Felder was the leader of RPT YGz until his arrest on August 15, and that members pay him in exchange for permission to sell drugs in and around the River Park Towers complex. They say Frederick Allen, also under arrest, was recently designated the new leader. The indictment identifies Nicomedes Frasqueri as the primary supplier of narcotics, operating out of his own apartment within the River Park Towers complex.

The other reputed members taken into custody are identified as Angel Amerzquito, Kevin Anthony, Kelvin Douglas, Derrick Felder, Anthony Givens, Keri Givens, Brian Hall, Ejijah Hubbard, Terrell Johnson, Tyrone Margwood, Shanequa Mascall, Lamont Obey, George Stone, Jerome Thomas and Johna Thomas.