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DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2010
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CONTACT: Erin Duggan
212-335-9400 |
DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF
12 MEMBERS OF DRUG ORGANIZATION
Major Wholesale Cocaine Supply Operation Dismantled in Hamilton Heights
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Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the sentencing of 12 members or customers of a major wholesale cocaine supply operation in Hamilton Heights. The members of the supply operation sold large quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine to their customers, who themselves were street gang members and other wholesale dealers in Upper Manhattan and the tri-state area. The major participants and customers received sentences earlier this year of up to 13 years in prison, and the final member was sentenced today to 17 years in prison.
These significant sentences mark the end of a major criminal drug operation that had been in business for nearly a decade and supplied drugs to Manhattan street gangs and other dealers throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut,” said District Attorney Vance. “The diligence of the New York City Police Department and staff members of the New York County District Attorney's Office has halted this cocaine supply center in Hamilton Heights. This is a step forward in making Manhattan’s streets and neighborhoods safer, and a victory in our fight against drug trafficking.”
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, “I want to commend the detectives from Manhattan North Narcotics and the Major Case Squad for their efforts which included hours of surveillance and often times dangerous undercover work. Their work and the work of detectives and prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office have moved this investigation to a successful conclusion that includes well deserved jail time for drug traffickers.”
The 4-month investigation into wholesale cocaine distribution in Hamilton Heights, code-named “Operation Family Affair,” was a joint endeavor between the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD. According to court documents, the investigation used visual and video surveillance, undercover operations, court-authorized electronic eavesdropping, and search warrants to obtain evidence of the activities of the operation and its customers. The convictions reflect the sale on various dates in 2009 of from multiple ounces to kilogram weights of cocaine by ALVIN FRASER a/k/a “Ed,” RAHIM HARLEY, CHRISTIAN JAQUEZ a/k/a “7-5,” and JASON HERRERA, to customers including DANIEL MCNAIR, LEE RUSSELL, and DAVIS SOLOMAN, and the possession by LUIS A. OVALLES, LUIS G. OVALLES, JULIO SANCHEZ, GREGORY DAY, and DANIEL REYES of almost two kilograms of cocaine and a loaded firearm in an apartment maintained by the supply organization at 617 West 141st Street.
On April 12, 2010, before Supreme Court Justice Edward J. McLaughlin, FRASER, HARLEY, JAQUEZ, and HERRERA, pled guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree. Today, FRASER was sentenced to 17 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision. On May 4, 2010, HARLEY, JAQUEZ, and HERRERA were each sentenced to 12 years, plus 5 years post-release supervision.
On November 24, 2009, before Supreme Court Justice Patricia Nunez, McNAIR pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree. On January 7, 2010, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, plus 5 years post-release supervision. On October 6, 2009, before Justice McLaughlin, RUSSELL and SOLOMAN pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree. On November 2, 2009, RUSSELL was sentenced to 8 years in prison, plus 5 years post-release supervision. On October 27, 2009, SOLOMAN was sentenced to 8 years in prison, plus 5 years post-release supervision.
On February 8, 2010, before Justice McLaughlin, LUIS A. OVALLES, LUIS G. OVALLES, SANCHEZ, DAY, and REYES pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. LUIS A. OVALLES and LUIS G. OVALLES were sentenced to 5 years probation. On February 23, 2010, SANCHEZ was sentenced to 4 years in prison, plus 3 years post-release supervision. On March 23, 2010, DAY was sentenced to 5 years probation. On April 20, 2010, REYES was sentenced to 1 year in jail.
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Ruda, of the Rackets Bureau and Firearms Trafficking Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Prevost, of Trial Bureau 60 and the Firearms Trafficking Unit, who handled the prosecution under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Dan M. Rather, Chief of the Firearms Trafficking Unit.
DA Vance also thanked the New York City Police Department, Narcotics Borough Manhattan North, Major Case Squad, specifically Inspector Kenneth M. Cully and Detective Brian Fleming.
Defendant Information:
ALVIN FRASER, a/k/a “Ed,” 1/15/80
133-25 147th Street
Queens, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, A-1 felony
SENTENCE:
· 17 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
RAHIM HARLEY, 2/09/81
500 West 142nd Street
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, A-1 felony
SENTENCE:
· 12 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
CHRISTIAN JAQUEZ, a/k/a, “7-5,” 6/17/75
3333 Broadway
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, A-1 felony
SENTENCE:
· 12 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
JASON HERRERA, 9/25/84
625 West 138th Street
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, A-1 felony
SENTENCE:
· 12 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
DANIEL MCNAIR, 10/08/71
14 Marian Drive
Newburgh, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, A-1 felony
SENTENCE:
· 13 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
LEE RUSSELL, 2/07/71
149 Robinson Avenue
Newburgh, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, A-2 felony
SENTENCE:
· 8 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
DAVIS SOLOMAN, 5/11/74
78 Vails Gate Heights
New Windsor, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, A-2 felony
SENTENCE:
· 8 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision.
JULIO SANCHEZ, 1/19/80
604 W, 140th Street
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, B felony
SENTENCE:
· 4 years in prison, to be followed by five years post-release supervision.
DANIEL REYES, 4/24/84
160 West 139th Street
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, B felony
SENTENCE:
· 1 year in jail.
LUIS A. OVALLES, 7/23/79
596 Riverside Drive
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, B felony
SENTENCE:
· 5 years probation.
LUIS G. OVALLES, 4/01/78
596 Riverside Drive
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, B felony
SENTENCE:
· 5 years probation.
GREGORY DAY, 2/22/84
22 Kanochan Avenue
Hempstead, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, B felony
SENTENCE:
· 5 years probation.
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New York County District Attorney | duggane@dany.nyc.gov | 212-335-9400 |
