Major heroin ring busted

Freeport woman arrested

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Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that seven people, including Donna Martin, of Freeport, have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a heroin ring that operated in Nassau County, Queens County and Pittsburgh, PA. These arrests kept $1 million worth of drugs from hitting the streets, Singas said a press conference Monday, June 13.


Martin is allegedly a “major trafficker,” Singas said. “She is one of four defendants charged with numerous crimes, including major trafficker, that can result in 25 years to life in prison.” Martin pleaded not guilty to the charges.
 The arrests are the result of a four month joint investigation into heroin sales involving the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Police Department Narcotics Vice Bureau and the Drug Enforcement Administration Long Island District Office Task Force, which comprises agents and officers of the DEA, NCPD, NCDA, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Hempstead Police Department.


The ring, allegedly directed by defendant Victor McKeever, 53, in Pittsburgh, used a stash house in Kew Gardens, Queens, and sold drugs intended for Freeport and other locations. DA Singas said that McKeever used Martin and Mahabirsingh as the local distributors of heroin.


 Detectives and investigators from the various agencies followed Martin and Mark Mahabirsingh, 34, of Queens, and observed meetings between them and other members of the alleged distribution network, including Tariq Johnson and Anthony Greer, with a total of 170 grams of heroin destined for Nassau County. Singas said detectives were then able to “conduct electronic as well as street level surveillance that led to the seizure of approximately two kilograms of heroin that was recovered from a Mega Bus depot in Manhattan on November 22.”


Greer was allegedly found in possession of two kilograms of heroin after a police dog smelled the narcotics in a backpack that was destined for Pittsburgh. Johnson, Martin and Mahabirsingh were allegedly involved in the transport of the heroin. “It is estimated that the seized drugs had a street value of at least $600,000,” Singas said.


 As the investigation continued, the network’s “stash house” was identified as an apartment in Kew Gardens, Queens. On December 9, approximately one kilogram of heroin, cutting agents, plastic wrapping and a kilogram press were recovered from the house. On the same day, Patterson was arrested in connection with this conspiracy, allegedly having approximately 400 grams of heroin in his possession.


 It is estimated that approximately 3.4 kilograms of heroin, with an approximate street value of $750,000 to $1 million, was prevented from reaching the streets as a result of the investigation.


Members of the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor; DEA Newark; DEA Los Angeles; DEA Pittsburgh; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department; Pennsylvania State Parole and the U.S. Marshals assisted the investigation.


Six of the seven defendants have been arraigned on multiple charges, while the final defendant, Eboni Felder was transported from Georgia over the weekend and was arraigned on felony conspiracy charges on Monday, June 13.


Victor McKeever, 53, was arraigned on June 9 before Acting Supreme Court Justice Meryl Berkowitz on charges that include Operating as a Major Trafficker, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, two counts of Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree  and Conspiracy in the 4th Degree.


 The defendant pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $1,000,000 bond or $500,000 cash. McKeever is due back in court on July 12. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. The defendant was arrested in December and was extradited by members of the Nassau County Police Department last week.


 Four defendants were arraigned on the indictment charges in January before Judge Deligatti.


 Donna Martin, also known as Donna Peart-Martin, 51, of Freeport, was arraigned on Jan. 27 on charges that include Operating as a Major Trafficker, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, two counts of Conspiracy in the 2nd Degree, and Conspiracy in the 4th Degree. Bail was at $250,000 bond or $125,000 cash. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.


Mark Mahabirsingh, 34, of Queens, was arraigned on Jan. 27 on charges that include Operating as a Major Trafficker, three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree and other charges. The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
Tariq Johnson, 39, of Englewood, NJ, was arraigned on Jan. 28 on charges that include Operating as a Major Trafficker, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree and other charges.  The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.


Shawn Patterson, 49, of North Charleston, SC, was arraigned on Jan. 27 on charges including two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree  and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree and other charges. The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on the top count.


 Anthony Greer, also known as Nephew, 25, of Pittsburgh, was arraigned on April 26 before Judge Deligatti on several charges, including Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd Degree and other charges. The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.


 Assistant District Attorneys Brittany Gurrieri, Lauren Kalaydjian and Kristen Fexas, Deputy Bureau Chief of Singas’ Special Operations, Narcotics and Gangs Bureau, are prosecuting the case.


“Heroin is devastating our families, communities and our country,” Singas said. “With these arrests we stopped more than three kilograms of heroin from reaching our streets. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and use every available tool to hunt down those who peddle this deadly poison and bring them to justice,” Singas said.


Acting Commissioner of Police Thomas Krumpter said the arrests are “a significant break in our fight against the heroin epidemic.” He added that it was troubling to learn that the drug fentanyl was used to cut the heroin. “The likelihood of fatal overdoes is exponentially greater.”


All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.