27 More Arrests Made In Takedown Of Westchester Drug Ring

June 2024 · 3 minute read

Twenty-seven more arrests have been made, bringing the total to 49, as part of a lengthy investigation into heroin sales in Westchester, the Bronx, and Pennsylvania.

New Rochelle Capt. Cosmo Costa said that on Tuesday, Sept. 10, five search warrants were executed in Yonkers, the Bronx, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, as part of "Operation Red Smiley," leading to various charges for the suspects, one of whom remains at large.

More than two kilos of heroin were seized along with marijuana and weapons.

Those arrested on Tuesday were are facing charges that range from misdemeanor drug possession, to criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon.

The investigation began last May when detectives in the New Rochelle Police Special Investigations unit became aware of heroin stamped with a red smiley face symbol that was prevalent in New Rochelle.

In February, investigators identified two suspects: New Rochelle resident Jeffrey Brickle and Rafael Rivera, of the Bronx. It is alleged that Rivera supplied the heroin, and Rivera had already been under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. He’s facing federal and state charges.

Rivera led investigators to Kevin Lynch, of Mount Vernon, who is suspected of dealing cocaine throughout Westchester. On July 24, investigators executed three search warrants in New Rochelle and Pelham that led to the arrest of seven other people, the seizure of heroin, cash and drug paraphernalia.

According to Costa, several members of the Brickle family have also been arrested and charged during the investigation. The senior members of the Brickle family include Jeffrey Brickle, Sr. aka “Pops,” and Althea Cutler. These two suspects had numerous customers in New Rochelle and arranged for other family members to also distribute contraband. Jeffrey Brickle aka “Gunnar” is the grandson of Jeffrey Brickle, Sr. and also is charged in this case.

The 49 charged, including the 27 most recently, are

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