17 indicted for major cocaine, heroin smuggling ring

Amelia Camurati
Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. (Photo by Noah Manskar)

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said Wednesday that 17 New York members of a major narcotics organization were indicted by a grand jury for allegedly selling and trafficking cocaine and heroin through Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as Queens and upstate New York.

The defendants — Lyonel Beaubrun, 41, of Rosedale; Kervin Etienne, 36, of West Hempstead; Jean-Luc Theodore, 35, of Valley Stream; Jaksem Phileppe, 42, of Far Rockaway; Musheer Reid, 34, of Brooklyn; Emmanuel Lemite, 38, of Rosedale; Ebony Johnson, 36, of Brooklyn; John Beaubrun, 38, of West Hempstead; Naeemah Smith, 37, of Rosedale; Sandra Marseilles, 38, of Rosedale; Sully Botello, 33, of Central Islip; and Ashley Cumbo, 27, Bellerose — are charged with various crimes in the eight-count indictment, including operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy, all felony charges.

Lyonel Beaubrun is additionally charged with operating as a major trafficker and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Singas said many of the defendants are related.

“The arrests and indictments are another clear example of exceptional investigative work performed by numerous law enforcement agencies,” Nassau County acting Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. “A clear message is being sent to these drug dealers that we have no tolerance for this type of illegal activity and that we are focused on keeping our children and families safe no matter where you reside. The large quantities of these illegal narcotics being distributed is concerning and we have been able to take another organized narcotics ring and its members off the streets.”

As a result of the search warrants executed Tuesday, investigators seized approximately three and a half kilograms of cocaine, four ounces of heroin, approximately $115,000 in cash, two defaced guns, money counters, kilogram presses, packaging equipment, a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and a Richard Mille watch, authorities said. 

In total, approximately five and a half kilograms of cocaine and approximately $190,000 in cash was seized during the year-and-a-half investigation.

According to a news release from Singas, Etienne, Lyonel Beaubrun and another relative founded the operation, supplying large quantities of cocaine and heroin to 14 others. The drugs were allegedly stored at various houses in Queens and Nassau counties after allegedly being transported from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix to John F. Kennedy Airport in false-sided suitcases.

Singas said the county’s Special Operations and Narcotics Bureau began the investigation in March 2016.

The defendants, several of whom are related, allegedly distributed narcotics at the kilogram level with profits estimated at $50,000 to $75,000 per week. The group allegedly supplied major dealers in Long Island, New York City, upstate New York, Chicago, Maine, Maryland and Virginia.

Twelve of the defendants were arrested and arraigned before Supervising Judge Christopher Quinn Tuesday, four defendants are awaiting arraignment, and another defendant has yet to be apprehended.

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