Pubdate: Sat, 25 Aug 2007
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2007 The Buffalo News
Contact:  http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Michael Beebe
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials. Street addresses have also been redacted.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN RING BROKEN UP BY TASK FORCE

Members of a federal task force said Friday they broke up a drug ring 
based on Buffalo's West Side that was distributing more than 2 pounds 
of heroin a month in the city and its suburbs.

More than 150 officers from two dozen police agencies began arresting 
suspects Thursday evening and Friday morning in the sweep against 
what they called the Antonetty Organization.

Named for [Name redacted], the crew is alleged to have set up drug 
houses on Niagara Street, Massachusetts Avenue and West Utica Street, 
authorities said.

Agents led by the FBI said they hope the two-year investigation will 
help control the violence that has led to a number of recent 
homicides and other violence on Buffalo's West Side.

Niagara Council Member Dominic J. Bonafacio Jr. said the federal 
charges should carry more of an impact than the usual arrests of drug 
users who are often released soon after they charged.

Police obtained 18 arrest warrants and conducted searches on nine 
residences during the raids, confiscating less than a pound of heroin 
and three weapons.

U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder has detained without bail 
[Name redacted], 27 [address redacted]; [Name redacted], 40, of 
[address redacted].; and [Name redacted], 21, of [address redacted].

Schroeder set bail hearings for seven other suspects for Wednesday, 
and investigators are still seeking several others, Assistant U.S. 
Attorney Timothy C. Lynch said .

John A. Yervelli Jr., an FBI agent, said in an affidavit filed in 
court that agents listened in on cell phone conversations that showed 
them the organization used houses to package the drugs and sold them 
from others, including 809 Niagara St., 453 West Utica St., and 44 
Massachusetts Ave.

Agents used a confidential informant to make more than 20 buys of 
heroin in the last several months, according to the affidavit. 
Yervelli said the monitored conversations showed that only small 
amounts of heroin were kept at the houses where drugs were sold to 
lessen the charges if police raided them. He said the drug houses 
were open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Agents listened in and watched, he said, as Buffalo police raided the 
Niagara Street house after complaints of heavy drug sales in the area.

The investigation was conducted by the Safe Streets Task Force and 
grew out of an investigation by New York State Police. The task force 
is led by the FBI, and also includes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms and Explosives, and Buffalo police.

Also named in the federal warrants were [Name redacted], 22, of 
[address redacted].; [Name redacted], 24, of 92 Condon St.; [Name 
redacted], 18, of [address redacted].; [Name redacted], 25, of 
[address redacted]; and [Name redacted], 27, of [address redacted].

Also, [Name redacted], 25, of [address redacted]; [Name redacted], 
24, of [address redacted]; [Name redacted], 22, of [address 
redacted]; [Name redacted], 21, of [address redacted]; [Name 
redacted], 38, of [address redacted], Lancaster; [Name redacted], 37, 
of [address redacted], Blasdell; [Name redacted], 26, of [address 
redacted]; [Name redacted], 49, of [address redacted], Lockport; and 
[Name redacted], 56, of [address redacted], Dunkirk.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman