By Brendan Krisel (Patch National Staff) - August 4, 2016 8:24 pm ET
HOWARD BEACH, QUEENS — It's been a rough day for the mob. On the same day that 46 mafiosos were charged in a federal indictment, seven more were indicted for allegedly running a prescription pill ring in two Queens neighborhoods.
John Gotti, 23, was one of the seven arrested and charged Thursday for selling selling Oxycodone and other pharmaceutical controlled substances in Howard Beach and Ozone Park for the past 12 months, announced Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. Gotti's grandfather, also named John Gotti, was the former boss of the Gambino crime family and one of the most recognized mobsters in recent history.
Gotti, Justin Testa, Shaine Hack, Steve Kruger, Edward Holohan, Michael Farduchi and Melissa Erul have been charged with first, second- and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree money laundering, according to the indictment. Gotti, Kruger and Testa have additionally been charged with operating as major traffickers, also known as the "kingpin" statute.
“As alleged, John Gotti and the other defendants peddled prescription painkillers from Howard Beach to Ozone Park, contributing to the rampant supply of these potent drugs," NYPD Comissioner Bill Bratton said. "I commend the Queens South Narcotics detectives for their work on this case and my thanks, as always, to the Queens District
Officials executed search warrants on three of the mobsters' homes, including Gotti's, a tattoo parlor and two vehicles owned by Gotti during the investigation. As of Thursday, police have recovered nearly $240,000 in cash, more than 850 Oxycodone and Xanax pills and drug ledgers and other records.
During a months-long investigation, police used various surveillance techniques and undercover drug buys to gather information about the pill ring, officials said. A listening device placed in Gotti's car, an Infiniti G35 sedan, recorded Gotti bragging about selling more than 4,000 pills for a profit of $100,000 each month, according to the indictment.
"In recent months, we have seen a significant rise in the use and abuse of prescription painkillers. Drugs such as Oxycodone are extremely potent and have a high potential for abuse and death. Today’s arrests not only cut off the suppliers of these drugs, but the distributors as well," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.