Four people have been charged for their alleged roles in a cocaine distribution network, following a long-term investigation into narcotic trafficking.
From November 2024 through October 2025, Jose Morales allegedly ran a large-scale narcotics distribution network, allegedly employing drug runners to pick up and deliver drugs, and to make drug sales on his behalf. Morales and his alleged drug runners — Erin Easop, Victoria Koehler and Russell Kiesche — on eleven separate occasions, allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover Suffolk County police officer.
Morales allegedly provided a cellphone that Easop, Koehler, and Kiesche shared and used specifically to arrange for the sale of street-level amounts of cocaine, allegedly on behalf of Morales. Customers allegedly would call the cellphone, contact whichever runner happened to be in possession of the cellphone at that moment, and arrange to meet to purchase cocaine. Morales allegedly determined the price of the cocaine and personally handled the larger-quantity sales.
During one narcotics sale to the undercover police officer, Morales allegedly provided more than two ounces of cocaine in exchange for cash. On two occasions, Morales allegedly sold more than half an ounce of cocaine to the undercover officer.
On October 10, members of the Suffolk County Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at Morales’ Brentwood residence. During the execution of this search warrant, officers allegedly recovered more than nine ounces of cocaine, psilocybin (commonly referred to as “mushrooms”), amphetamine pills, a loaded and operable Smith & Wesson 9-millimeter Luger semiautomatic pistol with a high-capacity ammunition feeding device, an operable Amadeo Rossi .38 special caliber revolver, a money counter, scales and baggies used for cocaine distribution, and more than $34,000 in cash.
On October 29, Morales was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for:
- one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A felony
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A felony
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class D violent felony
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class D felony
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
- two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A felonies
- five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all Class B felonies
- three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all Class B felonies
- one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony
- two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, all Class A misdemeanors
- two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, all Class A misdemeanors
Collins ordered Morales held on $300,000 cash, $600,000 bond or $3,000,000 partially secured bond. Morales is due back in court on December 3, and faces 24 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
On November 6, 2025, Easop, 41, of Coram, was arraigned on the indictment before Judge James A. McDonaugh for:
- one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
- five counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all Class B felonies
- six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all Class B felonies
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony
Collins ordered Easop to be supervised by supervised release during the pendency of the case. Easop is due back in court on December 10, and faces up to ten years in prison if convicted on the top count.
On November 12, Koehler, 55, who is homeless, was arraigned on the indictment before Collins for one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, both Class B felonies.
Collins ordered Koehler released on her own recognizance. Koehler is due back in court on December 16 and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted on the top count.
On November 6, Kiesche, 48, of Bohemia, was arraigned on the indictment before Acting County Court Judge James McDonaugh for two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all Class B felonies.
McDonaugh ordered Kiesche released on his own recognizance. Kiesche is due back in court on December 10, and faces nine years in prison if convicted on the top count.
“Thanks to our law enforcement partners, a dangerous criminal enterprise was identified, and more than nine ounces of cocaine, cash, and multiple firearms were seized from inside the alleged ringleader’s home,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Today’s indictments send a clear message that cocaine traffickers will be caught if they peddle these poisons in Suffolk County, and they will be prosecuted.”