Joon H. Kim, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (the “DEA”), and Charles Gardner, Yonkers Police Department Commissioner (the “YPD”), announced today the arrest of ANSLEY R. ESTRELLA, RONALD E. LEON, and LUIS OSCAR REYES relating to 13 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 19,000 glassines of heroin in a house in Yonkers. ESTRELLA, LEON, and REYES were all charged Friday in a complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than one kilogram of heroin.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “After receiving a call about suspicious activity near a house in suburban Yonkers, responding officers allegedly discovered massive quantities of cocaine and heroin, as well as drug paraphernalia, in that home. We commend our law enforcement partners for their swift and effective response to this potentially dangerous situation, and the citizens who notified them when something just didn’t look right. Citizens can play an important role in keeping dangerous drugs, including opioids, off our streets.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated: “A Parent’s worst fear is a heroin dealer setting up shop next door. This case is a reminder that drug traffickers’ greed outweighs the safety of their neighbors. Law enforcement is committed to keeping a vigilant eye out for drug dealers like these whose trafficking encourages heroin abuse, crime and drug related violence, allegedly.”
Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said: “A thorough investigation conducted by the responding Yonkers police officers resulted in the discovery of a large scale narcotics distribution operation and the arrest of three individuals. We are working with our federal law enforcement partners on the follow-up investigation and the prosecution of these males. I would like to thank the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s office for their support and invaluable assistance.”
According to the allegations made in the Complaint:[1]
On the evening of December 7, 2017, YPD officers received a call indicating that three men had pushed a fourth man into a house in Yonkers, New York. YPD officers responded to the house, and saw ESTRELLA walk out of the house. The man said he lived in the house with his girlfriend, and that nobody was in the house. The officers could see – through the closed shades – silhouettes of people moving inside the house. Nonetheless, the man repeated that nobody was in the house.
As YPD officers approached the open front door, they saw REYES, with a surgical mask on, and then LEON, also with a surgical mask on, who had blood on his face. The YPD officers entered the house, where LEON denied being hurt.
YPD officers walked through the house to see if there were any additional people committing an ongoing crime or if there were victims in the house. In a room on the second floor, they found white powder, respiratory masks, and, in an open closet, a large number of glassine envelopes and scales.
In the garage, a YPD officer found a car with an open shopping bag, in which the YPD Officer could see what appeared to be bundles of decks of heroin.
The YPD officers placed ESTRELLA, LEON, and REYES under arrest. LEON had keys in his possession for the car in the garage.
The YPD obtained and executed a search warrant and did a full search of the house and the car in the garage, as well as two other cars. During that search, the YPD found, among other things, 13 kilogram-sized bricks of cocaine, 18,598 glassine envelopes containing heroin, 813 tan pills stamped “M30,” a number of plastic bags and clear knotted twists containing white chunky substances, a scale, five small grinders, assorted stamp pads and stamps, a metal kilogram press, and a money-counting machine.
The Complaint charges each of ESTRELLA, LEON, and REYES with one count of narcotics conspiracy, and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and aiding and abetting the same.
Mr. Kim thanked the DEA and YPD for their outstanding work on the investigation.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as allegations.
