WESTBURY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) – Eight people were indicted for their roles in an alleged cocaine distribution ring in which used the United States Postal Service, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Tuesday.
According to officials, Elomar Perez-Serrano and his co-conspirators, Maria Nieves, Carlos Vasquez, Brian Ruiz-Chaparo, Linda Wahlen, Lynn Chodkowski,
Samuel Rodriguez, and Omar Lopez-Perez were indicted for their roles in an alleged cocaine distribution ring in which kilogram weight cocaine parcels were shipped from Puerto Rico to Long Island through the USPS then sold on the streets in Suffolk County.
According to the investigation, between March 2022, and June 2023, Perez-Serrano allegedly received numerous parcels believed to contain cocaine every few weeks.
“These defendants allegedly used the United States Postal Service to ship numerous parcels containing cocaine from Puerto Rico to locations in both Suffolk County and Nassau County,” said District Attorney Tierney.
According to officials, Perez-Serrano allegedly assumed leadership of the local operation in March 2023, when his predecessor was killed in Puerto Rico.
He also allegedly took on coordinating the shipment of cocaine parcels
to Suffolk County and to his apartment building in Nassau County where he resided with Maria Nieves.
After taking possession of the narcotic, the co-conspirators worked together to distribute cocaine in Suffolk County.
On June 6, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants resulting in the following:
- At the Westbury apartment of Perez-Serrano and Nieves, officials allegedly recovered two-kilogram bricks of cocaine, one of which was found unsecured beneath a sink, and the other was found in a box beneath a child’s crib.
Numerous bags containing cocaine and crack cocaine that were packaged for sale, eight cellular telephones including the ones used to procure and
distribute cocaine, three digital scales used to weigh drugs, a money counter, materials used to package drugs for sale, and approximately $25,000 in cash were also recovered.
- Four ounces of cocaine, two cellular telephones, a digital scale and materials used to package drugs for sale were allegedly recovered at Ruiz-Chaparo’s Huntington Station residence.
Ruiz-Chaparro also alleged received a parcel believed to contain cocaine and allegedly engaged in narcotics distribution along with Perez-Serrano and allowed him to use his vehicle to further the distribution of cocaine in Suffolk County.
- At Rodriguez's Bay Shore residence, a cellular telephone he used in furtherance of his procurement of cocaine, over $9,000 in cash, and a digital scale were allegedly recovered.
It is also alleged that Rodriguez purchased large quantities of cocaine for re-sale from Perez-Serrano.
During the investigation, Perez-Serrano and Vazquez allegedly discussed making a daily profit of at least $2,000 from the street level sales of cocaine in Suffolk County, which would amount to almost a quarter of a million dollars in profit during the time of the conspiracy, officials said.
Additionally, In addition Perez-Serrano also allegedly sold cocaine to resellers, making an even greater profit.
After search warrants were executed on June 6, the USPS officials became aware that two additional parcels were in transit from Puerto Rico and headed to locations allegedly previously used by Perez-Serrano to receive parcels containing cocaine.
One of the parcels was allegedly addressed to Wahlen's residence while the second was allegedly destined for the apartment building where Perez-Serrano and Nieves resided.
Each parcel was found to contain approximately 35 ounces of cocaine —two kilograms in total— that were concealed within pool float boxes.
Perez-Serrano, 33, of Westbury, is facing charges including operating as a major drug trafficker, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
Nieves, 28, of Westbury, is facing charges which include criminal possession of a controlled substance in the First Degree, conspiracy, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
Vazquez, 52, of Huntington, is charged with conspiracy, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Ruiz-Chaparo, 34, of Huntington Station, is charged with conspiracy, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
Wahlen, 57, of Huntington Station, is charged with attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Chodkowski, 61, of Huntington, is charged with one count of conspiracy.
Lopez-Perez, 38, of Huntington Station, is charged with one count of Conspiracy.
Rodriguez, 54, of Bay Shore, is charged with conspiracy and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
A judge ordered Perez-Serrano be held on $1.5 million cash, $3 million bond or $15 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on August 15.
Nieves, Ruiz-Chaparro, Wahlen, Chodkowski, Lopez-Perez, and Rodriguez are scheduled to be arraigned on July 25.
Vazquez is scheduled to be arraigned on August 2.
“The Postal Inspection Service continues to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and keep them from using the Postal Service to distribute illicit drugs and endangering the safety of our communities,” said USPIS New York Division Inspector in Charge Daniel Brubaker.
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