Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced the indictment of 12 individuals, including a Valley Stream man charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, after an extensive investigation uncovered a narcotics trafficking operation on the South Shore of Nassau County, and multiple search warrants returned large quantities of drugs and firearms.
“As alleged in the indictment, this trafficking ring sold poison in the form of crack, cocaine and fentanyl, all along the South Shore of Long Island,” DA Donnelly said. “Thanks to an outstanding partnership with the DEA, we recovered more than eight pounds of cocaine and nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl, as well as an assault weapon, a ghost gun, and multiple high-capacity magazines. I am grateful for the work of my prosecutors and our law enforcement partners, who have helped stem the flow of these dangerous drugs into Nassau County.”
“The evidence speaks volumes in this case,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Since their insurgence, fentanyl and other synthetic and poisonous drugs are often mixed with traditional drugs, endangering the most vulnerable. DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to making our communities safer and healthier.”
“The indictment of twelve defendants in this drug trafficking operation along the South Shore of Nassau County is a clear example of numerous law enforcement agencies working together to bring these individuals to justice,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “Our communities are safer today with these individuals removed from our neighborhoods, as numerous firearms and large quantities of drugs have been seized. I would like to thank all of the law enforcement professionals and their agencies for a job well done.”
Christopher Corley, 47, was arraigned before Judge Meryl Berkowitz Wednesday on charges of Operating as a Major Trafficker (an A-I felony); Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a B felony); Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (a A-I felony); six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony); Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (an A-II felony); and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony).
The defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded. If convicted, Corley faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
James Anthony Alexander, 48, of Baldwin and Lithonia, Georgia, and Janeathea Nealy, 36, of Baldwin, were arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on charges of Conspiracy in the Second Degree; three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree; and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree.
The defendants both pleaded not guilty. Alexander’s bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, and $2 million partially secured bond. Janeathea Nealy’s bail was set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, and $100,000 partially secured bond. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.
Thomas Keyes, 36, of Long Beach, was arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on charges of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
Keyes pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.
Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead, was arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on charges of Conspiracy in the Second Degree; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony), and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony).
Clifford Nealy pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, and $100,000 partially secured bond. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.
The defendants are all due back in court on October 26, 2023.
DA Donnelly said that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Long Island District Office Task Force and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office began an extensive nine-month investigation after receiving information in October 2022 about a narcotic trafficking operation allegedly being run by defendant Christopher Corley.
After conducting months of surveillance across several locations in Nassau County allegedly used to support the narcotics operation, in March 2023 the NCDA applied for electronic eavesdropping warrants to identify the alleged conspirators.
Recordings of wiretapped phone calls and other surveillance revealed Corley, Alexander, and Clifford Nealy allegedly discussed making crack/cocaine, chopping up drugs, packaging the narcotics, and making multiple deliveries of drugs, including fentanyl in Nassau County.
The investigation led to several addresses, including 25 North Montgomery Street in Valley Stream, 945 Derrick Adkins Lane in West Hempstead, 780 Adams Street in Baldwin, and 14 Azalea Court in Long Beach.
During the execution of search warrants on June 13, 2023, at Corley’s home at 25 North Montgomery Street, a narcotics kilogram press used to make bricks of cocaine was allegedly recovered with powder still in the machine along with various stamps with symbols including a Yinyang and a “Transformers” head.
A trap disguised as an older model microwave was also recovered and contained nearly three kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams – nearly half a kilogram – of fentanyl.
It is alleged that the narcotics were being sold in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
In total, search warrants executed on June 13, 2023, recovered:
- More than 3.9 kilograms of cocaine – approximately 8.5 pounds
- Nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl
- More than 24 grams of crack/cocaine
- Seven firearms, including a so-called ghost gun and an assault weapon
- Four large-capacity magazines
- More than 23 grams of alprazolam
- Approximately 4.2 grams of oxycodone
- Two kilogram presses
Additional defendants charged in the indictment, but not in the conspiracy are:
Tatiana Lopez, 35, of West Hempstead, who was arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony).
Lopez pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.
John Nealy, 22, of West Hempstead, and Kito Lockwood, 49, of West Hempstead, who were each arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on three counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
The defendants pleaded not guilty and were released to pre-trial services. If convicted, the defendants face up to 7 years in prison.
Christopher Lasane, Sr., 50, of Long Beach, and Christopher Lasane, Jr., 27, of Long Beach, who were each arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree; and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree (a D felony).
The defendants pleaded not guilty. Christopher Lasane, Sr. was released to pre-trial services. Christopher Lasane, Jr.’s bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, and $20,000 partially secured bond. If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in prison.
Noelle Dean, 27, of Uniondale, and Keya Evans, 48, of Long Beach, who were arraigned before Judge Berkowitz Wednesday on charges of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree; and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree.
Dean and Evans pleaded not guilty and were released to pre-trial services. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 9 years in prison.
The defendants are all due back in court on October 26, 2023.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Long Island District Office Task Force is comprised of officers from several partner agencies, including the Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County District Attorney Detective Investigators, the Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, New York City Police Department, and the Freeport Police Department.
DA Donnelly thanks the DEA and this coalition of agencies for their partnership in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Paula Cajdler of the Narcotics, Firearms & Gangs Bureau. Corley is represented by Maureen McBride, Esq. Alexander is represented by David Haber, Esq. Janeathea Nealy is represented by Nipun Marwaha, Esq. Clifford Nealy is represented by Melvin Roth, Esq. Thomas Keyes is represented by Robert Schalk, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.