A Freeport man was found guilty of selling cocaine to an undercover police officer on three separate occasions. The conviction marks his fourth felony conviction, in addition to two misdemeanor convictions, since 2010.
In April 2025, the Suffolk County Police Department obtained intelligence pointing to Ishmel Owens selling illegal narcotics, and an undercover operation was initiated.
Owens subsequently sold cocaine to an undercover detective on three separate occasions.
On April 24, 2025, Owens met the undercover detective at Lowe’s shopping center in Commack and handed the detective 0.06 ounces of cocaine in exchange for $250 in cash.
On April 30, 2025, Owens met the undercover detective at Uncle Giuseppe’s shopping center in Melville and handed the detective 0.13 ounces of cocaine in exchange for $350 in cash.
On May 29, 2025, the two arranged to meet at Lowe’s in Commack. The undercover detective texted Owens, “I got 400 can u do 2 balls,” and Owens responded, “Gotcha no problem.” (A “ball” is a street term for an “8-ball,” or one-eighth of an ounce of cocaine.) The meeting was pushed to the following day.
On May 30, 2025, Owens met the undercover detective at Lowe’s and handed the detective 0.125 ounces of cocaine in exchange for $400 in cash. After the defendant left the meeting, the undercover detective determined that Owens had sold him crack cocaine rather than cocaine in powder form, and that the amount was less than requested. The undercover detective sent Owens a series of text messages requesting that he come back to rectify the situation. Owens agreed to meet the detective at Lowe’s, but never appeared.
Owens was arrested on January 14, 2026, in Inwood.
On August 19, 2026, Owens was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, of the following charges:
- three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
- three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
- two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, Class C felonies
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
Owens’ prior convictions include:
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, in August 2022
- Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B felony, in October 2016
- Burglary in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, in September 2016
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, in October 2011
- Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, in November 2010
“This defendant has amassed a total of six criminal convictions, and his latest crime of selling illegal narcotics underscores his continued willingness to endanger the public,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Drug sales are never a victimless crime; they fuel violence, addiction and instability in every corner of our community. This defendant has repeatedly shown that he has no business being out on our streets, and his continued criminal behavior now makes him eligible for a sentence of up to 45 years in prison.”
Owens is due back in court on September 21, 2026, for sentencing and faces up to 45 years in prison