$300,000 Verdict in Police Misconduct Trial: Plainclothes POs tailgate and frighten a citizen causing a motor vehicle accident resulting in a broken leg.
by TERI THOMPSON and NATHANIEL VINTON
A multi-agency narcotics strike force tapped the cell phone conversations of Spanish Harlem boxer Edgar Santana as part of its year-long investigation into an alleged cocaine conspiracy, which prosecutors say used the U.S. Postal Service to ship multiple kilograms of the drug from Puerto Rico for distribution in New York City.
An indictment unsealed yesterday by the New York Special Narcotics Court contains references to numerous “coded and cryptic” phone conversations. Santana appears to have been recorded in mid-November brokering a deal between two acquaintances for a kilogram of cocaine.
Santana, a junior welterweight with a 24-3 record, remained in police custody after his arraignment yesterday. The 29-year-old’s next bout, scheduled for an August 6 broadcast on ESPN, is in jeopardy but has not yet been canceled.
A large contingent of the boxer’s friends and family were in the courtroom as Santana entered his not guilty plea to charges of conspiracy and sale of a controlled substance. Twelve others were named in the indictment.
Following the arraignment Santana’s family huddled in the marble hallway to discuss meeting the bail levied on the fighter – a $150,000 bond and $75,000 in cash. Santana’s lawyer, Dan Ollen, said collecting such amounts would cause hardship for the family.
“Mr. Santana couldn’t hide from the law even if he wanted to.” Ollen told the court. “He is a world-famous boxer. He’ll be the main event on a fight card on ESPN. He’s very active in the community in Spanish Harlem.”
Santana is accused of brokering a deal in November 2007 between Angel Colon, the alleged ringleader of the conspiracy, and Tommy Caraballo, whose lawyer Frank Ortiz said was one of Santana’s childhood friends.
According to the indictment, tape of a Nov. 12 phone call reveals Caraballo agreeing to purchase one kilogram of cocaine from Colon. The indictment states that Caraballo picked the drugs up the next day near Second Ave. and East 101st St., having agreed in exchange to pay an undisclosed sum to Colon by passing the money to Colon through Santana.
But as Caraballo came away with the kilo of cocaine in Nov. 13, he was intercepted by the New York Drug Enforcement Strike Force – an investigation unit that combines resources of the DEA, FBI, NYPD, New York State Police and other agencies.
Caraballo was arrested and the cocaine was recovered from his vehicle, the indictment said. Caraballo was indicted in November, but was reindicted yesterday along with other alleged conspirators.
In another recorded conversation on Nov. 14, Colon allegedly asked Santana if the fighter had heard anything from Caraballo since the previous day’s transaction. Colon then asked Santana to pay Colon for he cocaine. It is not clear of the two realized at that point that Caraballo had been arrested.
On Nov. 15, according to the indictment, Santana told Colon in yet another “coded and cryptic” conversation that Santana would indeed pay Colon, which Santana allegedly did at 8:12 that evening.
The Daily News was the first to report Friday on the arrests of Santana, Colon and other alleged coconspirators. A DEA source told The News that $450,000 and at least a kilogram of cocaine were recovered.
Colon’s lawyer, Matt Myers, said no drugs or significant cash were found at his client’s home Friday, but that several cell phones were confiscated.
Colon’s bail was set at a $2 million bond and $1 million in cash. There will be a surety hearing in the next three days to make sure that the bail money doesn’t come from ill-gotten gains.
Source: New York Daily News
Attorney for the defense of Mr. Colon: Matthew D. Myers
Pro Boxer Edgar Santana Busted As Part Of Alleged Major Cocaine Ring
By Teri Thompson, Michael O’Keeffe And Nathaniel Vinton
Daily News Sports Writers
Updated Friday, July 18th 2008, 4:58 PM
(Originally published on July 18 at 10:12 a.m.)
Edgar Santana, the junior welterweight boxer often billed as “The Pride of Spanish Harlem,” was arrested Friday as part of an alleged international cocaine distribution ring busted by the New York Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor and the New York Office of the DEA.
Santana, 29, was picked up at his home at the George Washington Carver Houses on 102nd St. in Spanish Harlem in the early morning hours Friday. Friends and acquaintances were stunned.
“Everybody has been blindsided by this whole thing because it’s just not something that you would think Edgar could be involved in,” said Ernesto Dallas, Santana’s manager for the last six years.
Two Arrested In Drugs And Guns Scheme
By Christopher Flaherty
Special to The Sun – March 22, 2007
City Law Enforcement Officials arrested two men charged with running a criminal network that used drug profits to purchase and sell guns on the streets on New York.
In the scheme, three suspects, Peguy Desir, 27, Joshua Pierre, 30, and a man yet to be apprehended who is knows as “Big Man” purchased drugs in the city and sold them for large profits in the South, the officials said. They would then purchase guns in Southern states and resell them for higher prices in New York, the Manhattan District Attorney, Robert Morganthau, said at a press conference yesterday.
Some of the guns were bought at pawnshops in Virginia, the police commissioner, Raymond Kelly, said.
Mr. Morgenthau said the suspects were arrested on Tuesday evening at 182 South St. after a sting operation conducted by a joint task force from the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the police department’s Firearm Investigation Unit.
Lift Foxy’s Ear-Bling In Catfight
BY TONY SCLAFANI
Tuesday, September 14th 2004, 6:48AM
A $250,000 DIAMOND-encrusted earring was snatched from the lovely ear of rapper Foxy Brown when she was attacked inside a rest room at a swanky Manhattan club, cops said.
The raunchy R&B star was knocked around at Show Nightclub in Times Square early Sunday after an argument with a woman cops identified as Tanya Manderson got physical, police sources told the Daily News.
She slugged the 25-year-old Brooklyn-bred diva in the right ear about 12:45 a.m., then yanked off the gaudy earring, the sources said.
Manderson allegedly took the earring and Brown’s purse and ran out of the W. 41st St. club with security guards close behind, the sources said.
She disappeared into a subway station at 42nd St. and Sixth Ave. before hurling the purse onto the tracks and giving the guards the slip. The purse was recovered, but not the earring.
Someone at the club knew Manderson, and cops hauled her into the Midtown South Precinct about 4:30 p.m.
Manderson, 35, of Fort Greene, was charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
MSG Result: Tanya Manderson’s case dismissed by the grand jury.
Attorney for the defense: Matthew D. Myers
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