DA Indicts Five UWS Men for Selling Firearms and Fentanyl-Laced Narcotics

The group of men sold semiautomatic weapons and fentanyl-laced opioids from the Grant Houses in Morningside Heights.

| 08 Mar 2023 | 04:45

Five individuals from the UWS operating out of the Grant Houses NYCHA development were indicted for allegedly selling semiautomatic firearms and counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.

The five, according to an indictment from Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg on March 8 are: Javon Carter, 26, Bryant Diaz, 20, Yadiells Guzman, 25, Javon Peterson, 26, and Malik Phillips, 22.

“Today, New York City is safer because of the exceptional effort and steadfast dedication of everyone involved in this investigation,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Illegal guns and illicit drugs are a lethal combination, and the criminals who deal in them must be held accountable for putting New Yorkers at risk.”

Between June 7, 2022, and January 30, 2023, the defendants sold four firearms, including semiautomatics, as well as counterfeit Oxycodone to undercover detectives. They sold in total more than 900 of the counterfeit pills, which they referred to as “blues,” according to the indictment.