NEW YORK, NY (March 20, 2025) — A major drug trafficking investigation centered in Marcus Garvey Village, Brooklyn, has led to the arrest of 22 individuals, including Jose Garcia of Rye, New York, and the seizure of 18 guns, over eight kilograms of narcotics, and approximately $250,000 in cash. The operation, announced by Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, dismantled three interconnected drug trafficking organizations operating across Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester County.
The investigation, which began in February 2024, utilized undercover purchases, court-authorized wiretaps, and physical and electronic surveillance, including security camera reviews. It revealed Garcia, 51, allegedly headed a narcotics supply organization that provided heroin and fentanyl to dealers, including Roshawn Lucky, a key figure in the Marcus Garvey Village operation. Garcia’s organization reportedly reworked formulas for mixing heroin and fentanyl, branding glassine envelopes with stamps like “Strong Medicine,” “Adidas,” “Addicted,” “Top Secret,” “In Too Deep,” and “Fan Duel.” The “Strong Medicine” brand was particularly linked to overdoses near Marcus Garvey Village.
Garcia’s network allegedly used a stash location at 2272 Homer Avenue in the Bronx, where a search uncovered a heroin and fentanyl packaging operation, including large bags of narcotics, kilo presses, and packaging materials, along with two guns. A search of Garcia’s residence at 125 Central Avenue, Apartment C9, in Rye, yielded approximately $50,000 in cash and $300,000 in jewelry.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan stated, “I hope this investigation brings relief to residents of Marcus Garvey Village from the dangers posed by rampant drug dealing by sellers with ready access to firearms. A dedicated team of prosecutors and NYPD investigators traced the drug distribution chain to hold responsible all who profited from the misery they caused in this community.”
The investigation also targeted Lucky, 49, who allegedly controlled a network of dealers flooding Marcus Garvey Village with crack cocaine and heroin mixed with fentanyl. Lucky used multiple apartments and storage units to store drugs, proceeds, and firearms, including a storage unit at 1517 Bushwick Avenue where police seized 5,600 glassine envelopes of fentanyl/heroin mixtures branded “Strong Medicine,” five loaded guns, and ammunition on August 9, 2024. Another supplier, Bruce Gravenhise, 41, of Queens, charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, allegedly supplied cocaine to Lucky and others, with searches of his residence and a vehicle yielding seven kilograms of cocaine, three guns, and over $170,000 in cash.
The NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division, Gun Recidivists Investigations Program, and Field Intelligence Officers, with assistance from the Westchester Police Department and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, conducted the operation. Thirteen arrests were made yesterday, with court-authorized searches seizing additional drugs and weapons. Four overdoses, including one fatal, were connected to the organizations during the investigation.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “These arrests should put the criminal element operating within Marcus Garvey Village on notice that we are committed to improving the quality of life for all Brooklyn residents by ensuring that those who distribute narcotics and carry firearms will be brought to justice.”
The charges, including Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Possession of a Weapon, are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Arrests:
- Roshawn Lucky, 49, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 1st – 1 ct, CPW 2nd – 6 cts - Jashawn Ford, 25, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct - Jayden Damon, 25, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct, CPW 2nd – 1 ct, CPCS 7th – 1 ct - Christina Torres, 38, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 1st – 1 ct, CPW 2nd – 6 cts - Leslie Bravo, 42, N/A
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct - Vanessa Washington, 61, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 2nd – 1 ct, CPCS 3rd – 2 cts, CPW 2nd – 2 cts, CUDP 2nd – 1 ct - Anthony Turner, 53, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct, CPCS 4th – 1 ct, CPW 2nd – 1 ct, CPW 3rd – 1 ct - Frederick Robinson, 68, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct - Bruce Gravenhise, 41, Queens, NY
Criminal Charges: OMT – 1 ct, CSCS 1st – 3 cts, CPCS 1st – 2 cts, CPCS 3rd – 2 cts, CPW 2nd – 3 cts - Stephanie Exavier, 41, Queens, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 1st – 1 ct, CPCS 3rd – 1 ct, CPF – 1 ct - Shariff Bogan, 32, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct - Lequanda Bozeman, 42, Schenectady, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 2nd – 1 ct, CPCS 3rd – 1 ct - Sheyvon Johnson, 43, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CSCS 1st – 1 ct, CPCS 2nd – 1 ct - Arthur Lasane, 54, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 2 cts - Gregory Mackey, 43, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 2 cts - Jose Garcia, 51, Rye, NY
Criminal Charges: CSCS 1st – 1 ct - Angel Martinez, 49, Bronx, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct, CPW 2nd – 2 cts - Pedro Linares, 38, Bronx, NY
Criminal Charges: CSCS 3rd – 1 ct - Arnando Otano, 49, Queens, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS 3rd – 1 ct - Katherine Intriago, 48, Bronx, NY
Criminal Charges: CPCS – 1 ct, CPF – 2 cts - Darryl Barney, 51, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: Robbery 1st – 1 ct, Assault 3rd – 1 ct - Monte Green, 22, Brooklyn, NY
Criminal Charges: Robbery 1st – 1 ct, CPW 3rd – 1 ct, CPF – 1 ct
