Three Long Island men were among six suspects, including Grammy-nominated rapper Fetty Wap and a New Jersey corrections officer, arrested for allegedly trafficking more than 100 kilos of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.
A federal grand jury indicted Anthony Leonardi, 47, of Coram, 26-year-olds Brian Sullivan of Lake Grove and Kavaughn Wiggins, also of Coram, on charges of conspiring to distribute and possess controlled substances. The indictment was unsealed Friday at Central Islip federal court.
“The fact that we arrested a chart-topping rap artist and a corrections officer as part of the conspiracy illustrates just how vile the drug trade has become,” said Michael Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
Prosecutors said the LI trio, Fetty Wap — who’s real name is William Junior Maxwell II — corrections officer Anthony Cyntje, and a Pennsylvania man trafficked the drugs from the West Coast to the New York Metro area between 2019 and last year.
After the drugs were shipped via U.S. mail or in vehicles with hidden compartments, the narcotics were stored in Suffolk County and diluted with cutting agents into as many four kilos each before being distributed to dealers, authorities said. Five of the suspects are also facing gun charges.
Authorities who executed search warrants in the case seized $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, numerous fentanyl pills, two 9mm handguns, a rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition, according to investigators.
The LI trio was ordered held without bail pending trial. Fetty Wap is scheduled to be arraigned later Friday. They face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Sign up for Long Island Press’ email newsletters here. Sign up for home delivery of Long Island Press here. Sign up for discounts by becoming a Long Island Press community partner here.
