Six Defendants Charged With Narcotics Conspiracy In Peekskill

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced the arrest of six individuals charged with participating in a drug conspiracy that distributed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl on the streets of Peekskill, New York. The defendants, JASON TINSLEY, a/k/a "Floss," JEROME REED, a/k/a "Pops," RAKIM MAYO, a/k/a "Bo," THOMAS RYAN, GARY BURKETT, and MIESHA CATO, were arrested and arraigned on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants participated in a conspiracy to flood the streets of Peekskill with cocaine, crack, and fentanyl. They allegedly operated throughout the City of Peekskill, on the street and in public housing complexes, disrupting people's everyday lives and brazenly infesting the streets and residential buildings of Peekskill with dangerous drugs while they sought to get rich. Our investigation remains ongoing, and I thank our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office who are working tirelessly to keep drug dealers and dangerous illegal drugs out of our communities."

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: "These six defendants allegedly organized a regional narcotics trade to supply significant amounts of highly addictive drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, through various personal and intermediary transactions. The alleged conspiracy operated on the streets and within local residential complexes, putting the wellbeing and safety of residents at risk through the increased presence of illegal drugs. The FBI will continue to dismantle and terminate the flow of illegal drugs plaguing our communities."

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in White Plains federal court and statements made in court proceedings:

From roughly April 2024 until their arrests this week, the defendants participated in a conspiracy to supply and distribute large amounts of primarily cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl in Peekskill, New York, along with methamphetamine and other narcotics. They operated out of multiple residential buildings, including Peekskill's Bohlmann Towers and Dunbar Heights public housing complexes, actively selling drugs everyday themselves and through street sellers and couriers.

In addition to arresting the defendants on Tuesday, the FBI, City of Peekskill Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, and other members of the FBI's Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and its partners also executed multiple search warrants in Peekskill, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. In these searches, members of law enforcement discovered multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, PCP, multiple firearms and rounds of ammunition, and over $100,000 of cash and jewelry.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

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TINSLEY, 42, of Peekskill, New York; REED, 35, of Peekskill, New York; MAYO, 35, of Brooklyn, New York; RYAN, 43, of Brooklyn, New York; BURKETT, 62, of Peekskill, New York; and CATO, 37, of Peekskill, New York, are charged with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the City of Peekskill Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Mr. Williams also thanked the Yorktown Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police.

This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin L. Brooke is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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