An indictment and two complaints were unsealed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging nine defendants with conspiring to distribute heroin and/or oxycodone in Staten Island, New York.
Eight defendants were arrested earlier today in Staten Island and Brooklyn and are scheduled to be arraigned before Magistrate Judge James Orenstein in Brooklyn this afternoon. One additional defendant was arrested earlier today in Arizona, and her initial appearance is scheduled this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge David K. Duncan at the federal court house in Phoenix, Arizona. The government will seek to remove to New York for prosecution the defendant arrested out of state.
The charges were announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, and Commissioner James P. O’Neill of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
“These defendants allegedly pushed heroin and oxycodone for months, contributing to the opioid plague that has caused great suffering on Staten Island,” stated United States Attorney Capers. “Today’s arrests demonstrate this Office’s commitment to marshal all available resources necessary to investigate and prosecute those who peddle these highly addictive narcotics in our communities.” Mr. Capers expressed his appreciation to the Richmond County District Attorney's Office for its participation in today's arrests.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Hunt stated, “Since the millennium, statistics show a steady rise of drug overdoses in New York City with fatalities skyrocketing these past five years. Throughout that time, Staten Islanders weathered the storm termed by many as the ‘opioid epidemic’, with users transitioning from abusing diverted prescription medication, to heroin, to heroin mixed with fentanyl. By collaborating resources with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners, we arrested nine dealers responsible for fueling opioid addiction on Staten Island.”
“America’s addiction to opioids is dependent on drug-pushing organizations like this. Selling rock and prescription drugs out of their front door, in their own community, is inexcusable,” said Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge for HSI New York. “These arrests demonstrate the collaborative and continuing endeavor to attack the persistent problem of drug trafficking in New York and the surrounding communities.”
“As alleged, these individuals distributed heroin and oxycodone in their own community, and by doing so they endangered the lives of those who live and work around them by contributing to the supply of highly addictive narcotics that have led to numerous overdoses and deaths. The NYPD is committed to holding accountable those who are responsible for this deadly flow of poison and ensuring they are brought to justice,” said Police Commissioner O’Neill.
As alleged in the indictment and complaints unsealed today, as part of its investigation of narcotics trafficking by defendant Michael Calabria, DEA agents uncovered a narcotics distribution ring involving the defendants Joseph Calabria, Stephen Delpriore, Devida Lombardo, Ugo Gallo, Carol Monforte, Vincent Maniscalco, Glenn DePaolo and Maria DePaolo. As alleged in the court filings, the defendants conspired to distribute heroin and/or oxycodone from September 2016 to January 2017.
These arrests were the result of a long-term investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York State Police, the U. S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshal Service, New York National Guard, the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, the Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The Strike Force is partially funded by the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which is a federally funded crime fighting initiative.
The charges in the indictment and complaints are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the most serious offense, the defendants face up to 20 years of imprisonment.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karthik Srinivasan and Alicia N. Washington.
The Defendants:
MICHAEL CALABRIA
Age: 49
Staten Island, NY
JOSEPH CALABRIA
Age: 52
Staten Island, NY
STEPHEN DELPRIORE
Age: 55
Staten Island, NY
DEVIDA LOMBARDO
Age: 46
Staten Island, NY
UGO GALLO
Age: 46
Staten Island, NY
CAROL MONFORTE
Age: 57
Staten Island, NY
VINCENT MANISCALCO
Age: 55
Brooklyn, NY
GLENN DEPAOLO
Age: 59
Staten Island, NY
MARIA DEPAOLO
Age: 55
Staten Island, NY
E.D.N.Y. Docket Numbers:
United States v. Michael Calabria, et al, 17-CR-91
United States v. Carol Monforte et al, 17-MJ-170
United States v. Ugo Gallo, 17-MJ-171