Gary Johnson, known as "G Money," a leader of the Bloods gang, appeared in federal court in Central Islip on charges related to narcotics distribution. The 26-count second superseding indictment accuses him of distributing drugs like fentanyl and cocaine base, leading to one death and serious injury to three others. Johnson also faces charges for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, firearms offenses, and evidence destruction. United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack presided over the arraignment.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI's New York Field Office; and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced these charges.
"Our district has suffered terribly from the opioid epidemic," stated U.S. Attorney Durham. "With these new charges, this Office continues its tireless efforts...to prosecute drug traffickers responsible for the opioid crisis."
FBI Assistant Director Dennehy added that Johnson's alleged actions threatened public safety by introducing dangerous substances into communities: "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue its mission to assuage the flow of lethal narcotics."
SCPD Commissioner Catalina emphasized Johnson's disregard for consequences: "For years, Gary Johnson knew the poison he was selling posed deadly consequences...We will continue to work with our federal partners to take down drug traffickers."
Court filings describe Johnson as a leader within the G-Shine set of the Bloods gang who conspired from June 2013 until his arrest in November 2020 to sell narcotics across Long Island. His drugs led to four poisonings; notably on March 3, 2020, two individuals were revived after losing consciousness due to drugs distributed by Johnson.
On May 1, 2020, another incident involved two victims ingesting drugs supplied by Johnson; one survived after being found unconscious while Jane Doe #2 died from acute mixed drug intoxication involving cocaine and fentanyl.
The allegations against Johnson are yet unproven in court where he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A conviction could result in a minimum sentence of 25 years imprisonment.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal networks through collaboration among various law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Misorek, Meredith A. Arfa, Stephen Petraeus along with Paralegal Specialist Dejah Turla are handling prosecution duties under this initiative.