Heroin And Prostitution Ring Busted In Suffolk County
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A heroin and prostitution ring has been broken up on Long Island.
The year-long investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney Heroin Task Force helped lead authorities to arrest eight people involved in the ring.
WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reports
Podcast
Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota said it's rare to see drug and sex rings combined into one operation.
"I can't recall an instance where they had both of them working. So she was making money on both ends, both on drugs and on sex," Spota told reporters including WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.
1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reports
Podcast
The indictments of the two alleged ringleaders were unsealed in Suffolk County criminal court in Riverhead Monday morning.
The D.A.'s office said 29-year-old Steven McDaniel and 26-year-old Sandra Russell, both of Coram, ran the heroin madam ring, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.
"Russell was selling upwards of about 3,500 bags of heroin for $10 a bag, or about $35,000 of heroin every month," Spota said.
The suspects have been charged with selling drugs from shopping centers and selling sex from local motels.
Spota said the alleged hookers were paid with clothing, shelter, food and heroin.
"For every $80 of services, which would be about fifteen minutes, they would receive two bags of heroin. The more they prostituted themselves, the more heroin obviously they made," Spota said.
Authorities confiscated tens of thousands of dollars in cash, drugs and jewelry in the bust, including "100 bags of heroin hidden in a baby's bassinet [and] a diamond necklace...which...is in the shape of Long Island," Spota said.
Are you surprised to hear about this drug and sex ring in Suffolk? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below...
