Suffolk County arrests three men in cocaine distribution operation

Gaspal German Santos, 40, of Lindenhurst, allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover police officer on 11 separate occasions between March and June, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. On Thursday, Tierney announced the arrests of Santos and two alleged suppliers, Isaul Soto Mejia, 37, of Lindenhurst, and Pawell Cassidy Guzman Jimenez, 37, of North Amityville. The East End Drug Task Force executed two search warrants to bring the trio into custody.

The investigation into Santos began in March. During the following seven months, he completed 11 sales to the undercover member of the task force. On June 25, Santos agreed to sell 200 grams of cocaine. Task force members observed Soto Mejia entering Santos' vehicle and handing him a shopping bag. That same bag, filled with the ordered cocaine, was then passed to the officer.

To fulfill a later request for one kilogram of the substance, Santos met with Guzman Jimenez on Sept. 15. Santos is also known by the nickname Mochila, which means backpack in Spanish, according to the district attorney's release.

On Oct. 2, the task force executed a search warrant at a stash house on Park Place in Amityville. Officers recovered more than 1,000 bags containing what appeared to be cocaine prepared for street sales. The raid also yielded approximately $5,538 in cash, scales, packaging bags, and cutting agents. Prosecutors stated the group split kilogram packages into thirds to sell smaller quantities at higher prices, effectively doubling their profits. Guzman Jimenez was arrested at the scene.

Six days later, police obtained a court-approved warrant to search Santos' home on North Alleghany Avenue in Lindenhurst. Officers seized 170 grams of cocaine, roughly $2,072 in cash, a drug ledger, and drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Santos and Soto Mejia shortly after the search.

"These alleged drug dealers were flooding our communities with cocaine, putting countless lives at risk for their own profit," Tierney said. "Eleven separate sales to an undercover are not isolated transactions. As alleged, this was a deliberate, sustained operation fueled by suppliers and a seller who kept coming back for more."

Santos was arraigned Thursday before acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas in Riverhead. He faces eight counts of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree conspiracy, three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and related charges. Court documents indicate he is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 9. Soto Mejia and Guzman Jimenez were also arraigned before Goglas on charges including operating as a major trafficker, first-degree criminal sale, and conspiracy. Goglas ordered each man held on a $2,000,000 cash, $10,000,000 bond, or $20,000,000 partially secured bond. Defense attorneys for Soto Mejia and Guzman Jimenez did not immediately return messages seeking comment late Thursday. A defense attorney for Santos could not be reached Thursday evening.