News Scarpino

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. today announced the arrests of numerous suspected drug dealers who were arraigned on Felony Complaints in connection with street-level heroin and crack cocaine sales in the City of Yonkers.

A total of 31 offenders were targeted in the citywide sweep, with 25 defendants apprehended and another six offenders still at large.

Charges against the defendants include:

• Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, class “B” Felonies
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, class “B Felonies

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of many months of hard work by the Yonkers Police Department and multiple law enforcement agencies in tracking and apprehending drug dealers who are selling drugs in our community,” DA Scarpino said. “Sadly, we know this scourge knows no municipal or geographic boundary, nor is it limited to any particular socioeconomic group.  It is pervasive and it is deadly.”

DA Scarpino said this sweep targeted street level drug dealers who were selling primarily heroin and crack cocaine. Undercover officers from the Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office were utilized during this operation. The Yonkers Police Department, along with the DEA, made multiple buys through these dealers in roughly half the cases which started in May of 2016 and continued into May of 2017.

According to DA Scarpino, the defendants include one individual with approximately seven felony narcotic sales in his criminal history, and another with an Attempted Murder conviction from the mid 1990's.  

“Today is a step in the right direction and we will aggressively prosecute each of these cases,” DA Scarpino said. “However, we know that this is just the beginning of a long journey to eradicate these drugs from our streets. Hopefully, with the continued cooperation of law enforcement agencies at every level, we will be able to significantly reduce the amount of illegal narcotics in Westchester County.” 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John O’Rourke, Bureau Chief  of the Gangs, Firearms and Narcotics Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Craig Cecchini, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Narcotics Bureau.

Nov. 14, 2017 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Esdras Marroquin Gomez, AKA “Victor,” (DOB 4/2/85) was arraigned today before Judge Zambelli on an indictment charging him in the death of Lois Elizabeth Colley with:

• Murder in the Second Degree         

On Nov. 9, 2015, Colley’s body was discovered in her North Salem home by a caretaker who worked on the 300-acre estate. She died from blunt force trauma. 

Police discovered a pin from a fire extinguisher next to Colley’s body. A few days later, the extinguisher was recovered in a pond on the property. It was wrapped in a plastic bag and had Colley’s DNA on it.

During the investigation, the New York State Police developed the defendant as a suspect and learned that he had already fled to Guatamala just days after the killing.

Evidence was brought before a Westchester Grand Jury who voted to indict Gomez for Murder in the Second Degree.

He was later located in Mexico. Gomez was produced before the Honorable Barbara Zambelli today for arraignment on the indictment.

Gomez pled not guilty and was remanded.

His next court date is Dec. 7, 2017, and he faces twenty-five years to life in state prison.

Assistant District Attorneys Julia Cornachio and James Bavero of the Superior Court Trial Division are prosecuting the case.

In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Media contact: Deidra Thomas
111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116

May 2, 2018 -- Today, Mayor Mike Spano, Police Commissioner Charles Gardner, and Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. announced a series of arrests which took place yesterday throughout the City of Yonkers and surrounding jurisdictions, targeting known members of the Blood Stones gang as a result of an intensive four-month long investigation. ‘Operation: Blood Stone’ is a collaborative law enforcement effort between the Yonkers Police Department and the Gang, Firearms and Narcotics Bureau of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

Members from the Yonkers Police Department, including the Emergency Service Unit and with assistance from the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and Departments of County Probation and State Parole, began executing arrests early yesterday morning, targeting twelve offenders who have been the subject of this investigation. The majority of these arrests took place on the west side of our City.

During the investigation, Yonkers Police detectives working in collaboration with our partners in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, reviewed numerous incidents that were found to be connected to this group of individuals. Detectives conducted multiple interviews, debriefings, viewing of video recordings, physical surveillance and the execution of search warrants. Investigators were able to develop information targeting the Blood Stones gang, which was presented to a grand jury resulting in the indictment of these twelve  individuals. The defendants are facing felony charges of varying degrees including but not limited to Attempted Murder, Conspiracy, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Assault, and Gang Assault. The investigation is spearheaded by detectives assigned to the Yonkers Police Department’s Gang Unit, which is tasked with monitoring, investigating, and apprehending perpetrators of group violence, with assistance from the Third and Fourth Precinct anti-crime units.

Mayor Mike Spano stated, “I commend the great work of our Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their steadfast commitment to keeping our streets safe.  We continue to work diligently to ensure our communities are rid of these type of criminals so we can provide for a safer City of Yonkers.”

Police Commissioner Charles Gardner stated, “These arrests demonstrate the power of collaborating with our law enforcement partners and our shared commitment to public safety by working together to remove dangerous individuals from our communities. Yonkers is one of the safest cities because of the resolute determination of our police officers and detectives. I applaud their work and thank the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for our continued special relationship in fighting crime.”

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. stated, “Our newly formed Gang, Firearms and Narcotics Bureau within the District Attorney’s Office is showing results with cases like this – where our prosecutors have worked closely with Yonkers Police detectives to build a strong conspiracy indictment against members of this gang. We commend the diligent work of the Yonkers Police Department and Westchester County Department of Public Safety for this collaboration which resulted in rounding up members of this violent gang, and in so doing, making Yonkers and our surrounding Westchester communities safer.”

As of today, nine defendants have been apprehended with three offenders still at large. The investigation is on-going and we anticipate additional arrests – see attached poster for details. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the outstanding offenders is encouraged to contact the Yonkers Police Detective Division at (914) 377-7724 – all calls will remain confidential. 100 percent anonymous tips can be sent by texting the key word YPD plus the tip to 847411. Anonymous tips can also be sent to us directly through the Yonkers PD Tips app which can be downloaded for free to any Apple or Android device.

DA Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. at press conference

Panel of wanted images of Blood Stone gang

In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Media contact:
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(914) 995-3586

May 4, 2018 --

Defendant: Iran Colon (DOB 01/17/87), a Correction Officer, employed by NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

NY State Police arrested Iran Colon, a correction officer based at the Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, Tuesday at his home on Staten Island. He was brought to Westchester and arraigned on a 19-count indictment stemming from illegal activities involving an inmate victim between May 1, 2017 and Sept. 23, 2017. The charges are as follows:

• Three counts of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, class D felonies
• Five counts of Rape in the Third Degree, class E felonies
• Four counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, class E felonies
• Seven counts Official Misconduct, class A misdemeanors

Colon has been released on bail. The next court date is May 22, 2018 in Westchester County Court. The defendant’s appearance is waived, meaning Colon does not have to be present. Colon is suspended without pay.

Defendant: Garth Trail (DOB 09/04/56), a former head cook at the Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, employed by NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

He was arraigned on one count of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree. Its alleged Trail engaged in a sexual act with an inmate victim on Sept. 27, 2017, in the kitchen area of the facility. Trail was arraigned in Ossining and released on his own recognizance. Next court date is May 23, 2018 in Bedford Town Court. Trail resigned Sept. 30, 2017.

Defendant: Melissa Hill, (DOB 07/11/74), a former Correction Officer, employed by NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, has been charged with two counts of Official Misconduct stemming from acts in connection with a romantic relationship with an inmate from Nov. 19, 2017 to Jan. 30, 2018 in connection with her employment at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Hill was given a Desk Appearance Ticket and is due back in court on May 15, 2018 for arraignment in Ossining Town Court. She resigned April 16, 2018.

Facilities: Sing Sing Correctional Facility is located in Ossining New York. It is a maximum security prison that houses adult males. Taconic Correctional Facility is a medium security correctional facility in Bedford Hills that houses women only.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. spoke about the ongoing investigations:
“The Westchester County District Attorney continues to work with DOCCS Office of Special Investigations in this continuing investigation into criminal activity within the correction facilities in Westchester County. Any inappropriate action between an inmate and a corrections employee can damage the safety and security of prisoners, corrections employees and the greater community.

While we have completed these arrests, our prosecutors will vigorously work to bring these cases to an end even as we continue to work with the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations looking into criminal activity within the corrections facilities in Westchester County.“

DOCCS Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci said, “These latest arrests are thanks to successful investigations by the Department’s Office of Special Investigations, and our on-going partnerships with the Westchester County District Attorney and New York State Police. We have zero tolerance for any criminal activity within our facilities. These actions should prove to be a stern warning to others who may be considering similar shameful and illegal activities.”

ADA Laura Murphy, Career Criminal Bureau Chief and ADA Jennifer Sculco of the Public Integrity Unit are prosecuting these crimes.

In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Media contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(914) 995-3586