DEA New York Enforcement Division Announces Takedown of Brooklyn Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficker

 

DEA and NYAG’s Investigation Seized More Than 8,887 Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl and Over 891 Gramsof Cocaine

DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and New York State Police Superintendent Stephen James announced the arrest and indictment of Azer Arslanouk, 36, of Ocean Township, New Jersey, for illegally selling fentanyl and cocaine in Brooklyn, New York. An investigation led by the DEA and Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) seized more than 8,887 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and over 891 grams of cocaine, worth approximately $100,000. The indictment was unsealed in Kings County Court and charges Arslanouk with 31 crimes for trafficking narcotics. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

“Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl continue to be a lethal threat to those unsuspecting users who think they are taking a legitimate pharmaceutical pill,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “This operation, which included the removal of over 8,500 fentanyl pills off our streets, undoubtedly saved lives. We will continue to work with Attorney General James and our law enforcement partners across New York state, as we push toward our goal for a fentanyl free America.”

“Drug traffickers who hide fentanyl in counterfeit prescription drugs are putting New Yorkers suffering from opioid addiction in grave danger,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation took thousands of deadly pills off the street, and my office will continue fighting to stop the opioid crisis in our communities. I thank our law enforcement partners for their collaboration as we work to keep New Yorkers safe from dangerous narcotics.”

“The sale of these illegal drugs perpetuates a cycle of substance abuse and poses a significant threat to safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “This arrest speaks volumes of the tremendous coordination between law enforcement partners to stop the individuals that fuel these dangerous acts. We will remain diligent in our collaborative efforts with Attorney General James and our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of illegal drugs from infiltrating our communities.”

The investigation spanned 30 months and included hundreds of hours of physical surveillance, court-authorized cellphone GPS information, covert cameras, and undercover operations. The OAG’s investigation revealed that from December 2024 to January 2025, Arslanouk engaged in four separate drug sales, including cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Arslanouk was storing and selling the cocaine and fentanyl pills out of a storefront at 9 Lake Street in Gravesend, Brooklyn. He used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with buyers about his narcotics sales.

A search of the Lake Street storefront resulted in the seizure of more than 8,887 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and over 891 grams of cocaine, of which the street resale value is approximately $100,000. 

The indictment, unsealed before Kings County Supreme Court Judge Danny Chun, charges Arslanouk with 31 crimes, including various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A and B felonies), and Conspiracy to commit those crimes. If convicted, Arslanouk faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or by plea

Brooklyn-Based Ninedee Gang Member Sentenced to 145 Months’ Imprisonment for Covid-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud Scheme

 

Darnell Jones, also known as “EJ,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry in federal court in Brooklyn to 145 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. During the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic, from March 2020 through August 2021, Jones used stolen personal identifying information to fraudulently obtain more than $800,000 from federally funded unemployment insurance programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  As part of the sentence, Jones was ordered to pay $838,120 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor.  In addition, as part of his April 2025 guilty plea, Jones admitted to obtaining personal identifying information, including bank account information, between May 2021 and October 2024, to commit wire fraud with an intended loss of more than $2.7 million.   

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.

“This sentence demonstrates that those who defraud innocent victims and pilfer federal funds to support violent gangs will face severe punishment,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “To successfully dismantle violent gangs who terrorize our neighborhoods and communities, it is essential that we cut off their sources of income, including from fraud schemes like the one perpetrated by the defendant here.” 

Mr. Nocella also thanked the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Department of Labor, Office of Special Investigations for their assistance on the case.

“Darnell Jones, a Ninedee gang member, stole more than $800,000 intended for unemployment benefit recipients to fund the enterprise’s illicit operations and firearms procurement. Jones manipulated financial programs designed to support vulnerable New Yorkers during a global pandemic just to unlawfully facilitate the gang’s criminal activity. Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to stem any source of revenue supporting the viability of gangs plaguing our communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

“Darnell Jones stole more than $800,000 in federal funds meant to help vulnerable New Yorkers during a global pandemic and used those funds to bankroll a violent gang,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: anyone who steals from the government will face real consequences, and the NYPD will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to defraud and victimize others. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their pursuit of justice in this case.”

            

As set forth in court filings in connection with sentencing, Jones is a member of the Ninedee Gang, a violent criminal enterprise operating out of the Louis H. Pink Houses in East New York, Brooklyn.  Ninedee Gang members were affiliated with the “5” and “6” Pink Houses apartment buildings and engaged in gang-related violence within and outside of the New York City Housing Authority complex.  The Ninedee Gang protected its turf through violence, made money by selling drugs and committing fraud, and sought to silence those they perceived to be working with law enforcement. 

Jones led the Ninedee Gang’s fraud schemes, also known as “scamming,” and worked with other members to earn money for the gang through check fraud, postal money order fraud, and unemployment benefits fraud. For example, beginning in approximately November 2020, Jones sent a co-conspirator text messages containing the names of 10 New York residents in order to obtain personally identifiable information (PII) for those individuals without their knowledge.  The co-conspirator sent Jones the requested individuals’ dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers. In exchange, Jones paid the co-conspirator with cryptocurrency.  Subsequently, Jones submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits to the New York State Department of Labor using the stolen PII.  As set forth in court filings and as established at the trial of Ninedee Gang leader Maliek Miller, text messages in 2020 showed that Jones coordinated with fellow Ninedee Gang member Kevin Wint about pooling their money to purchase “glicks” or “plates,” which are references to firearms. Notably, in August 2021, law enforcement agents recovered two firearms, which were outfitted with laser sights, in a residence shared by Jones and Wint.

Eight Ninedee Gang members have been prosecuted for their gang-affiliated crimes, which included the prosecution of seven Ninedee members for their roles in the July 2020 murder in-aid-of-racketeering of Shatavia Walls.  Seven Ninedee defendants have pleaded guilty and an eighth, Maliek Miller, was convicted at trial in June 2024 and faces a mandatory life sentence. 

PPNA Guests For Tuesday April 14 Meeting

The PPNA General Community meeting on Tuesday April 14th at 7:00 pm with special guests Senior Mgmt. from the US Postal Service. If you have any issues or problems with the Post Office/Mail, then this is the meeting to attend! We meet at Bronx House located at 990 Pelham Parkway South 

Wave Hill Weekly Events (Apr 2 – Apr 9) | Get Crafty with Mosaics of Nature!

Our gentle giants sway in the dawn of a primavera breeze, rustling their leaves to hone their songs for a new chapter of their lives. These great trees and woodlands are staples of Wave Hill, giving additionalmeaning to the land they stand tall on, and painting pictures of what the past once was through their rings of history. Visit the garden and learn more about these vast green canopies that give us shady spots to cool down, frame river views, and illuminate a drab winter day.  

  

Nature & Wellness 

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, Apr 5, 1:00PM – 1:30PM    

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.    

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it.  

 

Art 

 

Atom Moore: Second Nature 

March 24  –  July 12 | All Day    

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.    

Still life and product photographer Atom Moore has built a career in macro photography, taking extreme close-ups of small subjects to capture the minute details that are typically missed by the unaided eye. Through this project of closely observing the garden with his camera, discover how Moore captures evidence of nature’s deep design and constant transformation.  

 

Family 

 

Family Art Project: Flora and Fauna Mosaics 

Sat, Apr 4, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Sun, Apr 5, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.    

Celebrate the diversity of life at Wave Hill through mosaics. Fit together small pieces, crafting artwork that shows the many unique plants and animals found in our gardens.  At 11:30am families can enjoy a story time program.  

 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.

This Week: Comptroller DiNapoli Reports Record Wall Street Bonus Pool

 

Comptroller DiNapoli Reports Record $49.2B Bonus Pool

Wall Street’s securities industry bonus pool reached a record $49.2 billion in 2025, up 9% from the previous year, while the average bonus rose 6% to $246,900, according to Comptroller DiNapoli’s annual estimate. The increases reflect a rise of more than 30% in Wall Street’s profits, which totaled $65.1 billion in 2025.

“Wall Street saw strong performance for much of last year, despite all of the ongoing domestic and international upheavals,” DiNapoli said. “When Wall Street does well, it’s good for our state and city budgets, which are reliant on the industry’s significant tax contributions. However, we are seeing slower job growth, and geopolitical conflicts have global repercussions that pose extraordinary risks for the short- and long-term outlook on the financial sector and for broader economic markets.”

Learn More

Watch: Comptroller DiNapoli's Annual Estimate of Wall St. Bonuses

Language Services Need to be Readily Accessible at NYC Public Health Clinics and Other Programs

An audit released by Comptroller DiNapoli found that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene does not consistently provide or track required language services across its public health clinics and other public-facing programs for patients and clients who have limited English proficiency, creating barriers to accessing vital services.

“It’s not acceptable that the city’s Department of Health cannot tell whether it’s consistently delivering the language services people need,” DiNapoli said. “Language barriers can delay care and lead to worse outcomes. The department needs to strengthen its oversight and implement our recommendations to ensure better, more accessible health care for all, and I’m pleased to see they have begun making the changes needed.”

Learn More

Watch: Audit Finds Language Barriers at Some City Health Clinics

Weekly Recap: Empowering Workers and Supporting Our Neighbors

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• Wall Street’s 2025 bonuses reached unprecedented levels in a rollicking year for markets
• N.Y. lawmakers call for tax hike on the wealthy as comptroller report reveals record Wall Street bonuses
• Lost in translation: Audit finds language barriers at city health facilities & during restaurant inspections
• Former regional chamber of commerce leader accused of stealing $470K report says
• Ulster County business owner pleads guilty to $1.1 million Medicaid fraud
• TAP college aid grants dropped 21% despite expansion efforts

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

New Rendering Reveals 1933 Lafayette Avenue in Unionport, The Bronx

 

A new rendering reveals 1933 Lafayette Avenue, a forthcoming 22-story residential building in Unionport, The Bronx. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning  and developed by Dimitrios Katehis of HP Park Lane Family HDFC, Inc., the structure will rise 226 feet tall and yield a total of 154,600 square feet designated for residential space. Inside will be 207 rental units averaging 746 square feet, as well as a cellar level, 45 open parking spaces, and 61 enclosed parking spaces. The property is bounded by Lafayette Avenue to the south, White Plains Road to the west, Turbull Avenue to the north, and the adjacent 14-story 1940 Turbull Avenue to the northeast.

The above main rendering provides an aerial perspective oriented looking southeast at the structure, which has a relatively simple rectangular massing featuring a number of setbacks spread across the upper levels. Each of which are lined with shrubbery and glass railings. The exterior cladding is a light-colored envelope, which will presumably use brickwork with a mix of metal spandrels between the grid of windows. A pair of rooftop photovoltaic system is visible atop the two bulkheads above the flat parapet. New tree-lined sidewalks will surround the site.

Below is a Google Maps street view image oriented looking northeast the existing surface-level parking lot, which would be fully removed and replaced by the upcoming residential project.

The nearest subway stop is the Parkchester station, serviced by the local 6 train. Meanwhile, a bus stop is conveniently located in front of the site along White Plains Road, servicing the Bx5, Bx36, and Bx39 bus routes.

An anticipated start and completion date for 1933 Lafayette Avenue awaits to be publicly announced. It’s unclear how many of the units will be designated as affordable housing and their income requirements, and what amenities may be offered.

DHS Slams Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for Offering Insane Plea Deal to Trans-Identifying Illegal Alien Child Rapist

 

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office agreed to a plea deal for this illegal alien child rapist that allowed him to serve a mere six months in jail

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for offering “Nicol Alexandra” Contreras-Suarez, a transgender criminal illegal alien, an insane six-month plea deal with time served in exchange for admitting to following a 14-year-old into the bathroom and raping him in February 2025.

He was initially charged with first-degree rape of a child less than age 17 and stalking. But in exchange for his guilty plea, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office offered him a six-month sentence.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) first lodged an immigration detainer with Manhattan Central Booking on February 13, 2025. He is currently being held at Rikers Island. New York City Department of Corrections has agreed to honor ICE’s detainer and not release this child rapist into American communities.

“This plea deal is a disgrace. Six months in jail for raping a child is a gross miscarriage of justice. This pervert was let into our country by the Biden administration and then again released from jail following his arrests for armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and prostitution,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “The horror story of Contreras-Suarez illustrates how open border and sanctuary politicians endanger Americans. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we will continue to put the safety of Americans first and fight to get criminal illegal aliens like this out of our communities to no longer prey on and victimize innocent children.”

In March of 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested Contreras-Suarez for illegally entering the U.S. in San Ysidro, California. The Biden Administration released him into the country. Contreras-Suarez was later arrested by Medford Police Department in Massachusetts for armed robbery, prostitution, and assault with a dangerous weapon. Due to sanctuary politicians, this criminal illegal alien was then released to terrorize more Americans.

Former Director of a Brooklyn Daycare Indicted for Stealing More Than $2.75 Million in Tuition Payments

 

Defendant Allegedly Spent Stolen Funds on Tickets to Professional Wrestling Events, Personal Travel, and Luxury Goods

At the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Murielle Misczak with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with her employment at a Brooklyn daycare (the Daycare).  Misczak was the director of the Daycare, which provided childcare and preschool to children.  Over the course of approximately four years, Misczak embezzled more than $2.75 million by directing parents to send tuition payments to unapproved accounts she controlled and transferring the funds to her personal bank accounts.  Misczak was arrested and was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.

“As alleged, Misczak abused her position of authority and betrayed the trust of her employer and daycare families by stealing millions in tuition to fund her own extravagant personal lifestyle,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office will vigorously prosecute corrupt individuals like the defendant who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of services for children.”

“Murielle Misczak allegedly stole millions of dollars from parents whose tuition payments were unknowingly funding personal lavish purchases. As the daycare’s former director, Misczak’s alleged embezzlement violated the trust placed in her by her employer and clients. The FBI is dedicated to disrupting corrupt schemes that defraud our city’s families for selfish gain, especially those exploiting childcare services,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

As set forth in court filings, Misczak was hired by the Daycare in 2013 as Program Coordinator and was later promoted to Director in 2020.  Starting in January 2022 and continuing through October 2025, Misczak stole more than $2.75 million in tuition payments by directing them to be paid into accounts she controlled and then transferring those payments into her own accounts. Misczak hid her theft from the Daycare by deleting and altering information in the Daycare’s accounting systems.  Misczak spent over $600,000 in stolen funds on travel and entertainment, including over $350,000 on tickets to professional wrestling events, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars on luxury goods and various personal expenses such as food delivery and ride sharing services.

The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Misczak faces up to 20 years in prison.