Police: 3 arrested in heroin supply ring in Shirley

Authorities have arrested three people in a heroin ring takedown that has been linked to several deadly overdoses in Suffolk County. Yulisa Almonte, 25, was a major drug trafficker in a heroin ring

News 12 Staff

Apr 28, 2016, 3:44 AM

Updated 3,056 days ago

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Authorities have arrested three people in a heroin ring takedown that has been linked to several deadly overdoses in Suffolk County.
Yulisa Almonte, 25, was a major drug trafficker in a heroin ring based in Shirley, according to authorities.
For 14 months, investigators tracked Almonte's alleged ring and did a wiretap for two months. Spota says she sold highly addictive heroin laced with fentanyl to 21-year-old Ian Dunn, of Shirley. Spota says Dunn then sold fatal doses to a mother and son in Manorville.
"A mother and son die on the same day six hours after Dunn dealed to them," said Spota.
In another case, a father ran Dunn off of his property after Dunn allegedly tried selling to his child. People who overdosed and survived have repeatedly said Dunn was their supplier.
Investigators said the ring is tied to three other deaths, as well as 17 overdoses in 2015.
One of Dunn's alleged runners , 26-year-old Jason Dyer, was also charged Monday. His defense attorney argued that Dyer is an addict and a "victim" himself who needs help after serving in the U.S. Navy.
Investigators said this ring distributed in Shirley, Mastic, Coram and West Babylon.
Spota said that even though the drug ring is tied to five fatal overdoses, he can't charge Dunn with murder because of flaws in New York state law. The state would need to prove he injected the person with heroin, and the crime would only be assault. Police have no evidence of injection. He says he is calling for a change in the law.
"This ring in particular was selling heroin for $60 a gram. Fentanyl, which is 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 40 to 50 times more powerful than the heroin, was being sold for $8 a gram," said Spota.
Between the Shirley drug ring and a drug ring in Queens to Brentwood, police say they recovered almost $570,000 in cash.
A judge issued a restraining order barring Almonte from seeing her 2-year-old daughter. She is being held on $1 million cash, or $ 2 million bond. She is due back in court on May 19.