Seven accused heroin dealers have been indicted following a joint law enforcement investigation.
The Buffalo Police Department Narcotics Unit began an undercover operation back in February. Officers began targeting street level heroin dealers throughout the City of Buffalo in an effort to combat the sweeping opioid epidemic.
The unit was able to arrest and obtain multiple count indictment warrants, and after several raids, the following suspects were arrested:
- 24-year-old Eddie U. Thomas, 878 Prospect Ave.: Subject sold heroin and fentanyl to an undercover detective The current indictment charges Thomas with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
- 34-year-old Latisa Harden, 91 Burgard Place: Subject sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective. The current indictment charges Harden with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
- 28-year-old Christopher Brown, 88 Carl St.: Subject sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective. The current indictment charges Brown with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
- 31-year-old Reynaldo Castro-Guzman, AKA Aurelio Castro-Lopez, 283 French St.: Subject sold heroin to an undercover detective. The current indictment charges Castro-Guzman with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
- 53-year-old Jorge Ortiz: Subject sold heroin to an undercover detective. The current indictment charges Ortiz with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Ortiz has an extensive criminal record that includes one felony conviction for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree. Subject had 18 packets of heroin and 31 bags of crack cocaine on his person at the time of his arrest.
- 32-year-old Daniel Loster, 73 Manitoba St.: Subject sold heroin to an undercover detective. The current indictment charges Loster with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
- 22-year-old Joshua Negron, 506 Niagara St.: Subject sold heroin to an undercover detective. The current indictment charges Negron with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree
About 1/2 ounce of heroin, 2 1/2 ounces of crack cocaine, two handguns and $2500 in cash were recovered during the operation.
