Officials say a 23-year-old Southeast man—who has been dubbed a "major Putnam heroin distributor"—is facing felony charges after allegedly selling the drug to an undercover officer on a number of occasions.
Investigators from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit arrested Franyellis Ramos, at his home, on a warrant Jan. 8, authorities said in a statement released Tuesday.
The arrest was the result of a months-long investigation that started in September 2012, when an undercover deputy sheriff within that unit "developed information that a man from the Bronx had recently took up residency in an apartment building located at Old Route Six in Southeast."
"Information gathered indicated that this individual was selling heroin to others from his residence," the release states. "During the investigation, it was determined that Mr. Franyelis Ramos was making regular trips to New York City to obtain heroin for distribution in Putnam County. Undercover deputies were able to infiltrate Mr. Ramos’ illegal enterprise and learned that he was selling the narcotic to others from his home and also supplying street-level drug dealers. They estimate that he was peddling 1,000 bags of heroin, having a street value of about $12,000 each week. The narcotics officers purchased heroin from Mr. Ramos on a number of occasions."
Ramos is facing the following charges: three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felonies.
Following arraignment before Southeast Town Justice Gregory Folchetti, the defendant was sent to the Putnam County Correctional Facility. Ramos is due back Feb. 5.
