A South Setauket man pleaded not guilty on Monday to felony drug and conspiracy charges after prosecutors reportedly said he was involved in a drug ring spanning across Northern Brookhaven.
Johnny Vargas, 30, stands charged with one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as conspiracy in the fourth degree, all felonies. He is also charged with criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a misdemeanor.
According to court records, he remains held on $150,000 cash or $300,000 bail and is due back in court on Dec. 21.
Along with Vargas, two others – a Lake Grove resident, and a Brookhaven Town employee who lives in Miller Place – were arrested in relation to the drug ring in late November.
A News 12 report noted that the three reportedly sold Oxycontin and cocaine in bars around the northern Brookhaven area, and authorities allegedly found hundreds of unprescribed pills in Thomas Forkin's Miller Place home, along with ounces of cocaine and $100,000 cash when it was raided by police.
Forkin – employed in the Brookhaven Town's highway department – remains held on $300,000 cash bail or $700,000 bond and is due back in court on Dec. 21.
Forkin is charged with four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as conspiracy in the fourth degree, both felonies. He is also charged with criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a misdemeanor.
Forkin made $60,312 as an employee of Brookhaven Town in 2010, the most recent records available on See Through New York.
Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine released the following statement to Newsday: "It would be inappropriate to comment at this time as this is part of an ongoing investigation and I refer all comments to the district attorney's office."
Anthony Perretta, of Lake Grove, is charged with a felony count of conspiracy in the fourth degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors.
According to News 12, more arrests and charges could be forthcoming.
