by Jerry Burke
NYPD 102nd Precinct Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit (SNEU) officers said 52-year-old Dennis Arango of Franklin Square, an employee of the Green Lines Bus Company since 1979, was working out of his car late in the afternoon on Monday, Nov. 25. While Arango was busy inspecting buses and checking arrival and departure times, he parked by a bus stop at 80th Street and Kew Gardens Road.
Undercover officers from the 102nd had set up a nearby post based on a tip that drug deals were taking place at the stop. At 5:30 p.m., another suspect, 33-year-old James Stefanatos of Astoria, allegedly approached Arango's vehicle and took part in an illicit drug transaction.
Police officers then made their move, arresting Arango and recovering a dozen bags of crack cocaine, a bag of marijuana, an Ecstasy tablet and $176 in cash from his car and person.
"[Arango] is alleged to have sold drugs including crack cocaine and Ecstasy while he was on duty," said Brown. Arango was charged with third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree possession of marijuana. If convicted of all charges, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Arango was arraigned on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Queens Criminal Court and released on $2,500 bail. He could not be reached for comment on the charges against him.
Stefanatos was tailed by SNEU officers and arrested down the block from the alleged sale. Police said he was carrying seven bags of crack cocaine and one Ecstasy pill. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and allegedly told officers that he had paid Arango $25 for the ecstasy. He was released without bail after his Tuesday arraignment and faces up to a year in jail if convicted.
