More than 2 dozen arrested in NYC following a wiretap investigation
Narcotics Operation
Thirty-two individuals were arrested Friday on narcotics and gambling charges following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Beginning early Friday morning, 32 individuals were arrested in New York City, Massachusetts, Georgia and Florida.
The investigation began with cocaine and heroin trafficking and ultimately led police to a sophisticated illegal gambling operation that catered to a clientele of New York City professionals.
David Diaz as the head of both the narcotics distribution network and the gambling operation, which included the Poker House located at 446 Avenue of the Americas and an online gambling business.
DIAZ allegedly ran these interconnected narcotics and gambling operations with assistance from two top associates.
Benjamin Guerrero, maintained an alleged drug stash apartment in a residence occupied by family members at 536 East 5th Street in the East Village and oversaw the packaging and sales of narcotics. Guerrero also served as a "pit boss" for the West Village Poker House.
Geeta Singh, aka "Mira," served as a manager and promoter for the gambling operation.
Anthony Delea and Lewis Castro, both alleged members of the Diaz narcotics operation, made multiple narcotics sales to an undercover NYPD officer.
The wiretap investigation initially focused on Castro and expanded to include Guerrero, Diaz and alleged narcotics suppliers Dante Rodriguez, Moliek Hudson and Edward Aigbojie.
Luis Chevres, aka "Presulo," allegedly sold narcotics to an undercover officer on multiple occasions at a barbershop
Diaz and Guerrero allegedly received drug deliveries Rodriguez, who resides in Yonkers, N.Y., Hudson, who is based Deltona, Fla., and Aigbojie, who resides in Brooklyn. AIGBOJIE allegedly served as a middleman for Hudson and was also an avid gambler at the Poker House.
Gambling Operation
While the narcotics-related investigation was underway, an NYPD undercover officer with the VICE Squad successfully penetrated the West Village gambling house and participated in poker games with the regular clientele. As a result of the combined efforts of the undercover operation and the wiretap investigation, police were able to identify the hierarchy and methods of the gambling operation.
The Poker House operated from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. and consisted of two floors that accommodated approximately 30 players at a time. Players at lower stakes tables on the first floor were required to purchase a minimum of $200 in chips, while higher stakes players upstairs were required to purchase $500 in chips. Each game lasted two hours, enabling tens of thousands of dollars to change hands in a single night. Players who left before the two hours were up forfeited their chips. Proceeds of the illegal gambling operation were used to fund further narcotics trafficking.
The entrée for Poker House clients was through defendant Geeta Singh, aka "Mira," who managed and promoted the gambling operation remotely from her residence in Atlanta, Ga. and oversaw a related online poker business. Among the methods Singh allegedly used to draw high stakes clientele were event listings through the online service Meetup. Clientele for the poker games were thoroughly vetted and were required to show a text message from Singh in order to gain entrance to the Poker House.
Indicted Defendants in Custody
David Diaz New York, NY 05/14/1966
Benjamin Guerrero Brooklyn, NY 09/05/1979
Dante Rodriguez Yonkers, NY 02/20/1975
Moliek Hudson Deltona, Fla. 12/14/1970
Edward Aigbojie Brooklyn, NY 05/09/1971
Jose Aviles New York, NY 11/1/1962
Lewis Castro New York, NY 11/18/1968
Kin Tung Wong aka "Mark Wong" aka "Mongo" Brooklyn, NY 05/26/1981
Anthony Delea Brooklyn, NY 04/15/1984
Luis Chevres aka "Presulo" Bronx, NY 02/07/1970
Roque Maldonado New York, NY 12/08/1976
Rafael Lugo Bronx, NY 07/13/1973
Leonardo Lugo New York, NY 10/04/1977
Damien Berkowicz New York, NY 12/04/1977
Geeta Singh aka "Mira" Atlanta, GA 01/12/1975
Alberto Guerrero Amherst, MA 02/06/1981
David Vasquez aka "Skaletto" New York, NY 07/10/1985
Haroon Saeed Brooklyn, NY 06/19/1980
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