DA: Prostitution-Heroin Ring Busted, Ran Through Port Jefferson

Indictments will be handed down Monday at Suffolk County Criminal Courthouse in Riverhead  following the dismantling of a heroin-prostitution ring that operated throughout Suffolk County, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office announced Sunday night.

The ring, which the SCDA says took place in Patchogue, Medford, Coram, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Farmingville, Centereach, Selden, Middle Island and other areas, was busted following a long-term investigation by the SCDA's Heroin Task Force that began in June 2011.

Those to be indicted are Jennifer Licata, 23, or Farmingville, Jahiteak Appling, 21, of Medford, Sandra Russell, 26 of Coram, Steven Mcdaniel, 29, of Coram, Taquan Rashad, 43, of the Bronx, Lee Appling, 46, of Coram, David Holmes, 51, of Coram and Deborah Trezza, 22 of Coram.

According to prosecutors, Russell and Mcdaniel were the ringleaders, Rashad was the supplier to Russell, Appling assisted Russell and ran a stash house, and Holmes, Licata, Appling and Trezza served as "runners" for the ring.

SCDA plans to display the confiscated heroin on Monday, along with diamond necklaces, Rolex watches with price tags attached, written instructions to Russell from Mcdaniel for running a prostitution ring and cash seized by Suffolk County District Attorney's Heroin Task Force detectives will be displayed.