A $7 million fentanyl ring allegedly operating out of a New York apartment received a Bronx yawn as the suspects were released without bail.
New laws in the Big Apple allowed suspects Livo Valdez, Jaslin Baldera, Frederick Baldera, Frandi Ledema, Diego Tejada and Parfraimy Antonio to walk out the door — sans passports — not long after a Monday raid.
The group was arrested after a Kingsbridge raid by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force.
Charges include criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally using drug paraphernalia.
“The drugs, which have a street value of about $7 million, were believed to be headed onto the streets of New York and New England, the prosecutor’s office said,” The New York Post reported Wednesday. “Despite the volume of the drugs seized, all six suspects were cut loose at their arraignments in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday morning.”
News of the suspects’ release stunned outside observers after it was shared on Twitter by The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York.
Some responses were as follows:
- “@NYCSpeakerCoJo @NYGovCuomo @NYCMayor @JumaaneWilliams you should all be ashamed of yourselves ! This city is turning to [crap]. Just watch how many will start leaving. Incompetent fools!”
- “My cousin was killed by fentanyl-laced heroin last week. How many people died from the poison that these men were making? What happened to all the politician’s talk about ending the opioid crisis? Just BS.”
- “I thought the no bail thing in NY would be for low level offenses so that someone wasn’t sitting in jail for a traffic violation. This is outrageous.”
- “Liberal Dems are altering laws to allow high paying criminal gains lucrative and with no consequence. Sign me up I’ll go make 7 million dollars and then get to walk out of jail free.”
The suspects, many whom have ties to the Dominican Republic, are due back in court Feb. 27, the newspaper reported.
#NoBailNY
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) January 29, 2020
“6 suspected drug dealers who are accused of running a $7 million fentanyl distribution operation were released w/o bail under the new criminal justice law.”
“Supporters in court Wednesday waved their hands in celebration as the 6 walked out.”https://t.co/2zw8L2HAFc
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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