Suffolk D.A. Tierney: Eight arrested after East End Drug Task Force investigation into fatal overdose  in Albany County

A fentanyl overdose death in Albany County in June 2023 led to a long-term investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force and the arrest of eight people during early morning raids of apartments in Riverhead and Greenport last Thursday, Suffolk D.A. Ray Tierney announced this afternoon.

Four Riverhead men and one woman were arrested when task force members executed search warrants early in the morning of Aug. 22 at two apartments in Riverhead. Search warrants were also executed that morning at two apartments in Greenport, resulting in the arrests of two men and one woman.

Six of the people arrested were charged with conspiring in the drug trafficking operation on the North Fork, and multiple other felonies, including criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a firearm. One other person was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and another was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance.

“What began as a tragic fatal overdose in Albany led us to uncover a significant drug trafficking operation here in Suffolk County,” Tierney said in a press release. 

“The fact that the victim’s family, amid their grief, had the presence of mind to contact law enforcement, led to the unraveling of an alleged criminal organization and the arrests of these eight individuals. I urge any families who are unfortunately in similar circumstances, to call my office or the Suffolk County Police Department, so that we may seek justice for the untimely death of your loved one,” the D.A. said.

According to the prosecutor, Shawn Smiley, 53, of Greenport obtained “illicit pills” from Melissa Flythe, 45, of Riverhead, and then sold the pills at various locations on the North Fork. 

Law enforcement then learned that Flythe’s boyfriend, Lashawn Lawrence, 49, of Greenport, was also allegedly involved in trafficking fentanyl and oxycodone pills, Tierney said.

During the investigation, through physical and electronic surveillance and other techniques, law enforcement officers identified additional co-conspirators in the trafficking operation, Tierney said, including David Brown, 48, of Riverhead, Jamal Lawrence, 49, of Greenport, and Amylyn Spinelli, 41, of Greenport.

Inside the Riverhead apartment of Lashawn Lawrence and Meliss Flythe, members of the East End Drug Task Force recovered a loaded ghost gun —a gun lacking a serial number —fentanyl packaged for individual sale and oxycodone pills, according to the district attorney.

Lawrence was charged with one count each of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said.

If convicted, Lawrence faces up to 15 years in prison, he said. Lawrence was arraigned on Aug. 23 and remanded without bail to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility. He is due back in court Sept. 24, according to the press release. 

Flythe was charged with one count each Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said. If convicted, Flythe faces up to 15 years in prison, he said. Flythe was arraigned on Aug. 23 and held on $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bond. She is due back in court on Sept. 10.

In the apartment of David Brown, 48, of Riverhead, police recovered more than a half-ounce of cocaine and more than a half-ounce of a substance believed to be fentanyl, according to the D.A.’s press release. Both were packaged for individual sale, the release said.

Brown was charged with four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies, one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted, the D.A. said. Brown was arraigned on Aug. 23 and was remanded without bail, according to the press release. He is due back in court on Oct. 9.

Two men inside Brown’s apartment when the task force executed the search warrant were also arrested.

Willie Davender, 53, of Riverhead, who police said was in possession of an unregistered firearm, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 9, Tierney said. If convicted, he faces up to one and one-third to four years in prison if convicted, Tierney said. 

Zante Davender, 25, who was in possession of oxycodone pills, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 9. If convicted he faces up to 364 days in jail.

In the Greenport apartment of Shawn Smiley, 53, officers executing the search warrant recovered oxycodone pills. A search warrant executed at 

Smiley’s storage unit, recovered two loaded firearms, the D.A. said.

Smiley was  charged with one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony,

two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies; and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, according to the press release. He was arraigned on Aug. 23 and remanded without bail. He is due back in court Sept. 13. Smiley faces up to 15 years in prison,Tierney said.

In the Greenport apartment of Jamal Lawrence, 49 and Amylyn Spinelli, 41, police recovered cocaine packaged for individual sale, Tierney said.

Lawrence was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony,  and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, according to the press release. He was arraigned on Aug. 23 and remanded, Tierney said. He is due back in court on Sept. 13. If convicted of the top count, Lawrence faces up to 12 years in prison, the D.A. said.

Spinelli,  was charged with one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, according to the release. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 6, Tierney said. If convicted, she faces up to two to four years in prison, he said.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force is comprised of members of the District Attorney Investigators, East Hampton Town Police Department, New York State Police, Riverhead Police Department, Southold Police Department, Southampton Town Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.