DA: Had Enough Fentanyl to Kill Every Suffolk Resident
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, together with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, announced charges against six individuals for allegedly operating together in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics in Suffolk County. The charges were the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force (EEDTF) along with members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York and the United States Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force.
“The defendants in this case allegedly ran a prolific drug distribution operation that flooded our neighborhoods with deadly fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine,” Tierney said. “Every kilogram of fentanyl represents 500,000 potential overdose deaths. There was more than enough fentanyl here to kill every man, woman and child in Suffolk County.”
“These charges once again highlight the strength of Suffolk County’s law enforcement partnerships,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “The East End Drug Task Force and all participating agencies worked tirelessly to bring down this operation responsible for distributing dangerous drugs in our communities. I commend every officer involved for their dedication and teamwork to get these criminals off our streets.
“This investigation exposed a narcotics network whose impact stretched from the Bronx to Suffolk County,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. “Deadly substances like fentanyl and cocaine continue to threaten our communities, but today’s results demonstrate that coordinated law enforcement efforts save lives. Collaboration remains one of our most powerful tools in the fight against drug trafficking, and I commend SCPD detectives, our law enforcement partners, and Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney for this successful operation.”
“The successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement partners in Suffolk County and New York City upended a dangerous alliance of Bronx-based narcotics suppliers and Suffolk County fentanyl, heroin and cocaine dealers,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “I recognize the hard work and dedication of the enforcement officers and attorneys who worked on this investigation and thank District Attorney Tierney for his dedication and leadership.”
“As a result of the relentless efforts of DEA New York’s Drug Enforcement Task Force, Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force, and our law enforcement partners, these six individuals now face charges for trafficking the poison that continues to devastate our neighborhoods,” said DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “This operation, which led to the seizure of nearly 11 kilos of cocaine and fentanyl; numerous weapons, and counterfeit pills, underscores the grave threat these individuals posed to our communities. The residents of Suffolk County deserve to live, work and flourish in their neighborhoods free from violence and narcotics. The DEA, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast and laser-focused on dismantling the criminal networks that inflict the most harm on our communities.”
“The New York State Police remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle narcotics networks that threaten public safety¸” said New York State Police Superintendent Steve G. James. “This case demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated investigations in holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting New Yorkers from the devastating impact of fentanyl and other dangerous substances.”
“These individuals flooded communities in the Bronx and across Long Island with deadly fentanyl and had zero regard for the devastation they caused,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “The women and men of the NYPD do the dangerous work on our streets to take down these drug trafficking operations, and thanks to them, these individuals can no longer put New Yorkers in harm’s way. I thank our state and federal law enforcement partners for their support in dismantling this network.”
Between April and October, the District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force (EEDTF) along with the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, NYPD and the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor, launched a probe into John Collado, Luiggi Peralta, Anthony Dominguez, Yergenis Paulino, David Proest and Michael Torres after investigators discovered that Collado was allegedly distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine throughout Suffolk County.
During that time, Collado, along with co-defendants Peralta, Paulino, Dominguez and Priest, allegedly conspired together to distribute narcotics throughout Suffolk County which was partially detected through 13 separate sales of narcotics to undercover officers. Undercover officers allegedly purchased a total of 7,441 fentanyl pills designed to look like oxycodone pills, appearing blue in color and containing an “m-30” marking. In addition, during the six-month investigation, undercover officers allegedly purchased a total of 2.8 kilograms of cocaine. The purchased narcotics had a total street value of over $245,000.
The investigation revealed that Collado allegedly conducted sales to the undercover officers himself. Peralta or Dominguez allegedly sent Priest or Paulino or at times, they themselves went to allegedly deliver the drugs to Collado prior to Collado’s scheduled meets with the undercover.
On October 30, members of law enforcement concluded the investigation with the execution of court-ordered search warrants, including COLLADO’s vehicle and home in West Islip, Dominguez’s vehicle and home in Bay Shore, Torres’ home in Wyandanch, Peralta’s vehicle and homes in Lindenhurst and in the Bronx.
At Collado’s residence, law enforcement allegedly recovered a loaded and operable Taurus 9mm handgun, as well as substances that field-tested positive as follows: approximately one ounce of cocaine and one ounce of heroin.
At Torres’ residence in Wyandanch, law enforcement allegedly recovered substances that field tested positive as follows: approximately 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 5 kilograms of heroin, 1 kilogram of cocaine, approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills and a loaded and operable 9mm handgun. TORRES was allegedly found sleeping with the handgun when police entered his bedroom.
Allegedly recovered from Dominguez’ residence in Bay Shore were seven high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, approximately 600 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine was found in a scooter located in his back yard and a loaded an operable 9mm handgun was recovered in his Dodge Durango.
Allegedly recovered from Peralta’s residences located in the Bronx and Lindenhurst were over $10,000 in cash and a money counter.
In total, the following were allegedly recovered from the execution of the October 30 search warrants:
- five kilograms of Heroin
- four kilograms of Fentanyl
- 1.8 kilograms of Cocaine
- approximately 2,000 fentanyl-based pills
- two Taurus 9mm pistols
- one Glock 43X pistol 9mm
- ∙one Mossberg .22 caliber Rifle
- ∙one Mossberg 20-gauge Shotgun
- ∙seven High-Capacity Magazines (Includes 3 “Drum” style magazines 50 round capacity) ∙ 0ne military style green ammunition can filled with ammunition
On October 31, the following defendants were arraigned before District Court Judge Evan S. Tanenbaum.
Collado, 26, of West Islip, was charged with:
- Twelve counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class A-I felonies
- Nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class A-I felonies
- Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A-II felonies
- ∙Sixteen counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
- Four counts of Criminal Sale 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 Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree.
Tanenbaum ordered Collado held on $1,250,000 cash, $2,500,000 bond or $10,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Collado is due back in court on November 19, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
Dominguez, 33, of Bay Shore, was charged with:
- One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class A-I felonies
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A-II felony
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B 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 Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D violent felony
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree.
Tanenbaum ordered Dominguez held on $1,000,000 cash, $2,000,000 bond or $10,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Dominguez is due back in court on November 19, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.
Paulino, 25, of West Babylon, was charged with:
- One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second degree
Tanenbaum ordered Paulino held on $750,000 cash, $1,500,000 bond or $7,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Paulino is due back in court on November 17, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
Torres, 26, of Wyandanch, was charged with:
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class C felony
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree.
Tanenbaum ordered Torres held on $750,000 cash, $1,500,000 bond or $7,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Torres is due back in court on November 17, 2025, and faces up to 20 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.
Peralta, 31, of the Bronx was charged with:
- One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony;
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A-II felonies
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree
Tanenbaum ordered Peralta held on $750,000 cash, $1,500,000 bond or $7,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Peralta is due back in court on November 17, and faces up to 20 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.
Proest, 35, of Ronkonkoma, was charged with:
- One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree, a Class A-I felony
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree
Tanenbaum ordered Priest remanded without bail. Priest is due back in court on December 16, and faces up to 30 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.