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18 Arrested, $1.5M Worth Of Heroin Seized In Westchester Bust

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. - Westchester County officials announced the arrests of 18 individuals who were arraigned on multiple felony charges for allegedly selling heroin in Greenburgh and White Plains.

Officials seized two loaded handguns, 2.5 kilos (more than five pounds) of heroin with a street value of more than $1.5 million and $100,000 in cash.

Officials seized two loaded handguns, 2.5 kilos (more than five pounds) of heroin with a street value of more than $1.5 million and $100,000 in cash.

Photo Credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office
Otis Armstrong, Sr. of White Plains

Otis Armstrong, Sr. of White Plains

Photo Credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office
Willie James Edwards of White Plains

Willie James Edwards of White Plains

Photo Credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office

On Thursday, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. released the names of 11 of the 18 individuals who were arrested in connection to the sale of street level heroin following a lengthy investigation.

Scarpino said that the investigation began last year, but ramped up and was expanded and accelerated beginning in January. He noted that many of the dealers were selling heroin to more than 25 customers, some of whom were purchasing the drug daily.

During the course of making the arrests, law enforcement officials seized two loaded handguns, 2.5 kilos (more than five pounds) of heroin with a street value of more than $1.5 million and $100,000 in cash.

Among those arrested were:

  • White Plains residents Willie James Edwards, 50; Otis Armstrong Sr., 59; Bryon Gaynor, 50; George Jamison, 47; Leon Richardson, 62; Daryl Kyle, 63; Clifton Monk, 56; and Bernard Pease, 59.
  • Elmsford resident Francis Brooks, 57.
  • Port Chester resident Alonzo Thompson, 55.
  • Yonkers resident Dwayne Stennett, 56.

Each of the defendants was charged with felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree conspiracy.

According to a lohud report, Gjon Kransnici, a teacher in Valhalla facing a drug charge in Greenburgh is allegedly involved in the investigation and also has been arrested.

“The defendants arrested include long time drug dealers with lengthy felony records. This coordinated, multi-agency effort targeted the right people to take off our streets,” Scarpino stated. “I want to thank the White Plains, Greenburgh, Yonkers and Port Chester Police Departments, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the F.B.I. Safe Street Task Force for their unstinting efforts to make these neighborhoods safer. I also want to thank our Narcotics Bureau and Investigations Division who made these cases and coordinated the take down of these dealers.”

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