By Hector Flores
Following an investigation, officials also arrested former New York City police officer Hubertus "Dutch" Vannes, 30, of Roslyn Heights and East Meadow resident Anthony Vitta, 44. According to authorities, Vannes stole weapons from an evidence room at his Queens precinct, and he and Vitta tried to sell them in East Meadow. Officials said that Vitta was also involved in selling powerful painkillers that were obtained illegally from Brass's East Meadow pharmacy.
District Attorney Kathleen Rice said, "This trio, responsible for polluting our neighborhoods with highly addictive painkillers and our streets with dangerous handguns, must and will be held accountable."
Rice added that the investigation began in February, when officers at the Nassau County Police Department's 1st Precinct received a tip about a gun- and prescription drug-dealing operation in East Meadow. Undercover officers who were sent to investigate purchased two handguns, a Glock 9mm and a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, from Vitta.
Detectives also learned that Vitta and Vannes were selling prescription drugs, officials said. On 11 separate occasions, detectives saw Vitta selling painkillers, including Vicodin, Oxycodone and Percocet, outside his East Meadow home.
The investigation into the drug sales led detectives to Meadow Drugs, and Brass. Rice said that detectives uncovered evidence that Vitta and Brass set up a defrauding scheme that involved the creation of fictitious patients and dispensed hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of prescription drugs to Vitta. She explained that the fake patients' names were used so as not to arouse the suspicion of local authorities and auditors. The D.A. added that Brass was also charging an insurance company for drugs he never sold at his pharmacy.
Brass was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree grand larceny, second-degree insurance fraud and two counts of first-degree falsifying business records. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 17. Nassau County District Court Judge Anna Anzalone set Brass's bail at $50,000 cash or bond, and he was ordered to return to court on Dec. 5. He faces a maximum of 39 years in prison if convicted.
Vannes was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm and fourth- and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He faces a maximum of 26 years in prison.
Vitta was charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third- and fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm. He faces a maximum of 43 years.
Paul Margiotta, an attorney representing Vitta, did not return calls for comment.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
