MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that the leader of a Hempstead drug ring was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision for his role in a drug ring that sold cocaine and fentanyl across Long Island.
Ricky Jackson, 41, of Hempstead, pleaded guilty before Judge Terence Murphy on December 9 to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony).
“Ricky Jackson directed a drug trafficking ring from his federal prison cell and this investigation led to the largest seizure of deadly fentanyl in Nassau’s history,” DA Singas said. “The seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners shut down this trafficking network, prevented the distribution of this especially lethal synthetic opioid, and saved countless lives.”
DA Singas said that beginning in April 2019, to curb drug and gun-related violence in Hempstead, the NCDA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, began investigating a drug ring that operated in and around 100 Terrace Avenue in Hempstead.
In total, 400 grams of fentanyl valued at more than $130,000, 500 grams of cocaine valued at $50,000 and eight firearms were seized during the investigation. The 400 grams of seized fentanyl represents approximately 150,000 potentially fatal overdoses and the largest fentanyl seizure in Nassau County history. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, two milligrams of fentanyl is fatal in most adults.
On September 15, 2019, the ringleader of the eight-person drug ring, Ricky Jackson, an inmate at FMC Devens Federal Prison in Massachusetts, allegedly directed his business partner Darren Devane and girlfriend Angelique White to take possession of what was believed to be 100 grams of heroin stored in White’s apartment.
NCDA investigators and members of the FBI Long Island Gang Taskforce seized the 100 grams from White and searched her apartment the next day - seizing an additional 300 grams of a white powdery substance.
Testing later revealed the total 400 grams – thought to be heroin – were nearly pure fentanyl.
Jackson’s girlfriend, Angelique White, pleaded guilty to her role in the ring before Judge Murphy to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony) on December 17. She is scheduled to be sentenced to five years’ probation on February 3.
Michael Drew pleaded guilty before Judge Murphy to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony) on November 21. He is expected to be sentenced to six months jail and five years’ probation on February 5.
The cases against five remaining co-defendants are still pending.
The NCDA thanks the FBI, ATF, Nassau County Police Department, New York State Police, Hempstead Police Department, Rockville Centre Police Department and the Nassau County Sheriff for their assistance in this investigation.
Senior Investigative Counsel Lee Genser of DA Singas’ Special Operations Narcotics and Gangs Bureau is prosecuting this case. Jeff Groder, Esq. represents Jackson and Nicholas Marino, Esq. represents White.
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