Source: Office of United States Attorneys
A federal jury yesterday in Central Islip convicted Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader, on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime. The verdict followed a four-week trial before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. When sentenced, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to life in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the verdict.
“Johnson peddled his potentially lethal drugs across Long Island while lining his pockets with profits, causing life threatening injuries to several members of our community in the process,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This Office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to finding, arresting, and prosecuting the drug traffickers and gang members who seek to profit from the ongoing opioid crisis and stopping all of the devastating effects these narcotics have brought with them.”
“For years, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader, carelessly supplied potentially lethal quantities of heroin and fentanyl to turn a profit,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “By distributing highly addictive narcotics, Johnson demonstrated a disregard to communal health and endangered countless residents, even causing three individuals to overdose. With the assistance from our law enforcement partners, the FBI will never cease its mission to disrupt all criminal enterprises poisoning our communities with dangerous drugs.”
“While nothing can take away the suffering of those who experienced life-threatening impacts caused by Johnson’s greed, let this sentence bring some solace that his crimes will not go unpunished,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to ensure narcotics trafficking is ceased.”
As proven at trial and set forth in court filings, between June 2013 and November 2020, Johnson, a leader in the G-Shine set of the Bloods based in Suffolk County, sold fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout Long Island. The drugs the defendant sold resulted in multiple victims experiencing overdoses, including three overdoses in March and May 2020. The jury returned a verdict convicting Johnson of multiple counts of distributing heroin, cocaine, and/or fentanyl. In connection with the overdoses, Johnson was convicted of three counts of narcotics distribution resulting in serious bodily injury.
Johnson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This charge arose from evidence recovered from Johnson’s residence when law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered a semi-automatic firearm.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa, Stephen Petraeus and Mark E. Misorek are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Dejah Turla, Rebecca Roth, and Adam Bernard, as well as Victim Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin.
The Defendant:
GARY JOHNSON
Age: 41
Bellport, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-518 (S-2) (JMA)