Thisweek's ganganddrugsweepistthe e latestin a seriesofsuchindictmentsandarreststhroughoutthecounty, startingwithMountVernonandPoorChesterinAprilandinYonkers a yearago.
Likepuzzlepieces, everyinvestigationleadsustoanotherconnectedpartandpotentiallyanotherjurisdictiononanotherindictmentandourcontinuedefforttomakeourcounty a saferandmoresecureplacetolive, workandplay.
Wearefocusedonworkingwithallofourlawenforcementpartnerstosend a messagetogangsanddrugdealers.
Before I goanyfurtherwiththedetails, LetmeintroducesomeofthepeoplewhoareherewithmetodayfromtheinertialpoliceDepartment.
I haveCommissionerJosephShallerhere, aswellasDeputyPoliceCommissionerRobertZola, CaptainCosmoAcostaandDetectiveLieutenantBrianFaganfromtheWestchesterCountyDepartmentofPublicSafety.
Thearrestsfollowedmorethan a yearofintensivefocusontheeighttreyCripsbyprosecutorsinourinvestigationsdivision, GangGunsinNarcoticsBureau, whoworkedcloselywiththenurseuppolicewithadditionalassistancefromtheWestchesterCountyDepartmentofPublicSafety.
Theindictmentdetailsthegang's cocainetraffickingoperationinNewRochelle, aswellasnumerousviolentincidentsincluding a homeinvasionandthreeattemptedmurders.
Onthisindictment.
All 14 arechargedwithconspiracytocommitcrimesincludingassault, criminalsaleandpossessionofnarcoticsandweaponsoffenses.
Withthat, I wouldliketoask a commissioner, JosephShallowerofNewRochelle, tosay a fewwordsinregardstothisinvestigation, Commissioner.
Okay, thankyou.
Mr.
DistrictAttorneyDistrictattorneyhasalreadyrelatedmostofthedetailsinthisoperation, buttheinvestigationbeganabout a yearagoinJuneof 2018 wheninvestigatorsfromourSpecialInvestigationsUnitandGeneralInvestigationsunitworkingthatcaseishereinNewRochelledetectedwhattheybelievetobe a connectionamong a numberofdrugtraffickingcases, violentcrimesandgunarrestsinthecitydatingbackasfarasMarch 2017.
A closerlookconfirmedthattheincidentswhatconnectedandrelatedtotheactivitiesof a localbranchoftheCripsgangnetworkknownastheeightTreyCrips.
Atthispoint, theNewRochellePoliceDepartmentenlistedthesupportoftheWestchesterCountyDistrictAttorney's office, theWestchesterCountyPoliceDepartmentsnarcoticsUnitand a localunitoftheFBI's OrganizedCrimeTaskForcetolaunch a jointinvestigationintothegang's activities.
Doyouthinkyoumadewell, I thinkthat, youknow, thefactmatteris, it's always a continuingbattlewhenyou'redealingwithanyformoforganizationandorganizedcrime.
And, uh, thisisdone a substantialdamagetothisgroup.
Umandyouknow, whenitcomestolawenforcement, itis a continuingbattleallthetime.