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Overcast Seventeen charged with narcotics trafficking in Long Beach
Alleged Latin King gang members trafficked cocaine, molly and marijuana, authorities claim
Seventeen individuals alleged to be gang members and their associates were arrested Thursday and charged with four narcotics trafficking conspiracies in United States District Court, according to a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges against the defendants, said by authorities to be members and associates of the Latin Kings street gang, involve conspiracies to traffic in more than 50 kilograms of cocaine, five kilograms of crack cocaine, two kilograms of molly and 500 pounds of marijuana.
The indictment is the result of a two-year investigation during which the LBPD, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration worked together to identify the most prolific narcotics traffickers in the Long Beach area, the release said.
This collaboration with federal agencies was authorized by City Manager Jack Schnirman and allowed the investigation to go beyond the city borders, which was necessary in the effort, said Long Beach Police Commissioner Michael Tangney. He added that some of the Latin Kings reside in Long Beach but the presence of those charged extends throughout the south shore of Nassau County.
“Today’s arrests have dismantled an alleged drug gang that preyed upon the Long Beach community,” James J. Hunt, special agent-in-charge at the DEA, said in a statement. “Law enforcement worked collaboratively to reclaim this neighborhood for the law abiding citizens who deserve to live without intimidation, fear, and drug trafficking.”
Court authorization was obtained during the investigation to intercept telephone communications among the defendants, all of whom were allegedly discovered to be engaging in narcotics trafficking activities.
Eleven of those charged face a maximum of life imprisonment, while four face a maximum of 40 years, and one other a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the release.
“The Long Beach Police Department is very appreciative of the assistance the FBI and DEA provided to the LBPD in this joint operation,” Tangney said in a statement. “This joint investigation was very successful and demonstrates that when federal and local law enforcement work together, great results are achieved.”
Tangney held a press conference at LBPD headquarters at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Herald will update this story.
