A former NYPD detective was among four people arrested in an alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy that moved large quantities of narcotics from Manhattan to Staten Island, authorities said.
Shanta Sawyer, 44, described by prosecutors as the alleged ringleader, is accused of working with his wife, Sophia Abinacer, 37; Michael Giordano, 35; and retired detective Philip Pietrunti, 60, to supply illegal drugs to dozens of customers on Staten Island, the city’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday.
The group was arrested last Thursday following a six-month wiretap investigation. Authorities also searched the Washington Heights home shared by Sawyer and Abinacer, as well as residences in Great Kills and Eltingville belonging to Giordano and Pietrunti, investigators said.
During the search of the Washington Heights residence, where two young children were present, police found large quantities of fentanyl, crack cocaine and heroin in a backpack and a safe. Investigators also seized a pill-pressing machine.
At Giordano’s home, officers discovered a small lockbox containing crack cocaine, 40 envelopes of heroin, cocaine, two scales and materials used to package drugs.
Police also recovered at least 13 unlicensed firearms from Pietrunti’s home. Pietrunti is a retired member of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit.
Investigators said intercepted phone calls helped expose the alleged drug conspiracy. In one conversation on May 18, Sawyer and Pietrunti reportedly discussed Sawyer selling cocaine to the former officer for resale.
“You can’t wait until you get off from work?” Pietrunti allegedly asked. “No, because I’m selling to someone at work,” Sawyer replied.
In late August, the two allegedly discussed meeting at a Wendy’s to exchange cocaine and “Xannies,” a slang term for Xanax pills. Sawyer reportedly told Pietrunti that the pills were counterfeit.
On Oct. 2, investigators intercepted another call in which Sawyer arranged for Abinacer to meet a buyer for a narcotics deal involving “dog food,” “G’s,” “Hard,” “Candy” and “Pebbles.” Authorities said the terms referred to heroin, crack cocaine and fentanyl.
Police observed Abinacer arrive in Huguenot, Staten Island, the following day to meet the customer before she drove back to her Manhattan residence.
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Several other intercepted calls allegedly showed Sawyer and Giordano planning to sell cocaine and fentanyl to another customer at Giordano’s home in Great Kills.
Police later watched as the customer pulled up outside the residence and Giordano approached the vehicle, leaning inside. Sawyer subsequently left the house, authorities said.
“The defendants involved in this takedown are alleged to have participated in a multi-borough criminal conspiracy that sought to flood our borough with dangerous narcotics, including large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone,” Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said in a statement.
“One of the defendants, Philip Pietrunti, a Staten Islander and retired NYPD Emergency Service Unit member, is accused of amassing a small army’s worth of illegal firearms, jeopardizing our borough’s public safety and betraying his oath to protect the community he once served.”
The latest arrest was not Pietrunti’s first encounter with the justice system.
In 2015, he was accused of firing a gun at an excavator over a job dispute with a construction company where he had previously worked. It was his third arrest that year, according to the Staten Island Advance.
The four alleged dealers were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday. Sawyer’s bail was set at $250,000, while Pietrunti was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
Abinacer and Giordano were released without bail, police said.
“This six-month investigation is a reminder of the NYPD’s relentless efforts to get guns and drugs off our streets,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said.
“These defendants flooded Upper Manhattan and Staten Island with dangerous drugs, but thanks to the tireless work of NYPD investigators, this trafficking network has been shut down for good. We appreciate the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office partnership in making our communities safer.”
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