April 24, 2007

DA & Glen Cove Police Bust Cocaine Ring

Drugs, guns, cash seized, 12 arrested after year-long investigation

MINEOLA - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced this afternoon that a year-long investigation into drug sales in Glen Cove has resulted in the arrests of 12 men and women and the seizure of four guns, cocaine and more than $22,000 in cash.

Joined by members of the City of Glen Cove Police Department, Rice outlined a case that began as an investigation into one man, Julius Coston, 50, of Glen Cove, and grew to include nearly a dozen of Mr. Coston’s associates. In March, the District Attorney’s Office obtained an eavesdropping warrant for the cellular telephone of Mr. Coston. Intercepting the defendant’s phone calls sealed the case against Mr. Coston and provided valuable information used in obtaining and executing five search warrants in the City of Glen Cove.

“This case started with people complaining about quality of life issues in their neighborhood and on their streets. These arrests are a serious blow to the drug dealing market in Glen Cove,” said Rice. “This office will continue to provide leadership, as well as assistance, to city and village police departments responding to their community’s calls for safer streets.”

Rice was also joined by City of Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, who praised the investigation and noted that three of those arrested were City employees who would face all applicable consequences available pending review of relevant municipal and civil service law.

Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi said, “As mayor I have dedicated much time and resource to quality of life issues impacting our neighborhoods. This year-long effort and partnering by the Glen Cove and Nassau County Police Departments with critical assistance from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office is a successful model for inter-governmental teamwork and cooperation. I am indebted to District Attorney Rice and her staff for again working with me in matters affecting Glen Cove residents and the greater community of Nassau County. I am also proud of the professionalism exhibited by the men and women of the Glen Cove Police Department.”

Rice praised the work of the Glen Cove Police Department, as well as the Nassau County Police Department’s Bureaus of Narcotics & Vice, Special Operations and Electronics, for their assistance in the wire tap surveillance and in the execution of simultaneous search warrants.

Arrested Saturday, April 21, 2007:

Julius Coston: 50, Glen Cove, Four counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Four counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree.

Celeste Hopkins: 43, Glen Cove, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree.

Darrel Hopkins: 19, Glen Cove, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree.

Arnold Taylor: 44, Glen Cove, This subject is a City of Glen Cove employee. He is a supervisor for the Public Works Department. Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree.

Jacori Bonner: 19, Glen Cove, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree.

Darryl Holly: 44, Glen Cove, This subject is another City of Glen Cove employee from the Public Works Department. Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

Larry Wheeler: 48, Glen Cove, Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

Jimmy Wheeler: 52, Glen Cove, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree.

Pamela Hubbard: 51, Glen Cove, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

Davon Brown: 27, Bayville, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

Dereck Thompson: 34, Glen Cove, This subject is another City of Glen Cove employee from the Public Works Department. Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

James Woodbury: 44, Glen Cove, Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.