Posted on: September 05, 2019 02:00 PM

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Queens man sentenced to 8 years in prison for operating drug ring in and around Ravenswood Houses

Queens Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan today announced that a 38-year-old Long Island City man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance. The defendant operated an illicit drug ring that funneled cocaine and heroin in the vicinity of the Ravenswood Houses between March 2018 and June 2018.

Acting District Attorney Ryan said, ?The defendant admittedly sold drugs to the members of this community. In doing so, the defendant and his operatives unknowingly traded drugs for cash with undercover detectives, who were part of a long-term investigation. The sentence meted out today by the Court sends a strong message to other individuals who make money selling poison in our neighborhoods.?

The Queens District Attorney?s Office identified the defendant as Jamarl Gilmore, 38, of 35th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. In July, Gilmore pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance before Queens Criminal Court Judge David Kirschner. Today, Queens Supreme Court Justice Suzanne Melendez sentenced the defendant to 8 years in prison, to be followed by five years? post release supervision.

According to the charges, following a long-term investigation, law enforcement officials arrested Gilmore on August 1, 2018, and several other individuals were subsequently arrested. Prior to Gilmore?s arrest, investigators - pursuant to a court-authorized eavesdropping warrant - listened to phone calls between the defendant and his co-defendants as they discussed dealing cocaine and/or heroin in exchange for cash with customers in the vicinity of the Ravenswood Houses. Over the course of the investigation, undercover detectives assigned to the NYPD?s Queens North Gang Squad routinely bought cocaine either directly from Gilmore or from people working for him.

Gilmore?s co-defendants cases are pending.

Assistant District Attorney Nancy Tse, of the District Attorney?s Narcotics Investigations Bureau, prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys WilbertJ.LeMelle, Bureau Chief and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations, Mark L. Katz and Julie S. Trivedi, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, Philip D. Anderson, Section Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco. (From Queens DA's office)