Four Arrested in Connection with Illegal Psilocybin Mushrooms and Candy Seized from Businesses in Manhattan’s East Village
Four individuals were arrested following an investigation into the sale of psychedelic psilocybin mushroom products from a CBD store on East 11th Street and a smoke shop on East 7th Street in Manhattan’s East Village. The investigation began in response to community complaints, and involved a series of undercover purchases and court-authorized searches by members of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Narcotics Borough Manhattan South.
Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell announced the arrests today following arraignments in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday and early this morning.
The Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor filed two criminal complaints in connection with the investigation. The first criminal complaint charges defendant STEVEN PHAN, the alleged owner of “Come Back Daily,” located at 516 East 11th Street, with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, and defendants WILLLIAM BRAKO and NINA FINK with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree.
The second complaint charges defendant MOHAMED AHIR, the alleged owner of “City Clouds,” located at 120 East 7th Street, with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “The NYPD and Office of Special Narcotics responded to community complaints and concerns about illegal drug dealing in commercial establishments. I thank those who care enough about their neighborhoods and protecting public safety to alert us to the ongoing problem of distribution of illegal substances by purportedly legitimate businesses.”
“Our intelligence-driven investigation, stemming from community complaints, has put a stop to this criminal activity and demonstrates, once again, that the NYPD and our law enforcement partners will never waver in our fight against the harm caused by illegal drugs,” said Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “I want to thank our NYPD detectives from Manhattan South Narcotics for working so swiftly and effectively with our partners in the office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York to make this important case.”
The investigation revealed that illegal psilocybin mushroom products were allegedly stored and sold inside a secret back area of “Come Back Daily,” located at 516 East 11th Street. Customers would pass through a public section of the store and say a code phrase to a receptionist. Buyers were then directed to a hidden door that led to a back room with a counter, an office/storage area and a lounge. Inside this back area, customers could allegedly purchase illegal controlled substances, such as psilocybin mushrooms in various forms.
A court-authorized search of “Come Back Daily” by members of the NYPD’s Narcotics Borough Manhattan South occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 20, 2022. PHAN was present at the time and allegedly identified himself as the owner of the store. BRAKO and FINK were also present.
Inside the hidden back area of the store, officers recovered a large quantity of psilocybin mushroom products in various forms, including pills, mushrooms, chocolate bars and gummies. Officers seized nearly 1,500 psilocybin mushroom pills packaged inside sealed containers that held 10 or 30 pills each; 59 medium ziplock bags of “Mushie” brand psilocybin mushroom in mushroom form; 24 medium ziplock bags of “Mushie” brand psilocybin gummies; a box containing 35 large chocolate “Polka-Dot” psilocybin mushroom bars, a box containing 8 small “Polka-Dot” psilocybin mushroom bars; 3 yellow wrapper mushroom chocolate bars; and four plastic bags containing psilocybin mushrooms. Also recovered was approximately $1,884 cash.
The criminal complaint details two undercover purchases of psilocybin mushroom products that occurred inside “Come Back Daily” during the investigation. On November 1, 2022, at approximately 4:28 p.m., an undercover officer went inside the store and allegedly received 10 psilocybin mushroom pills from BRAKO in exchange for $70 cash.
Just prior to the search on December 20, 2022, at approximately 4:13 p.m., an undercover officer went inside the store and allegedly received 10 pills of psilocybin mushrooms from FINK in exchange for $70 cash.
Also on December 20, 2022, an undercover officer entered “City Clouds,” located at 120 East 7th Street, at approximately 3:44 p.m. and asked for a “One Up” mushroom chocolate bar containing psilocybin. AHIR allegedly handed the undercover officer a bar in exchange for $50 cash. AHIR allegedly identified himself as the owner of the store to arresting officers. A second “One Up” mushroom chocolate bar containing psilocybin was recovered in a search of the store.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and commended SNP’s Trial Division and the NYPD’s Narcotics Borough Manhattan South for their work on the investigation.
Defendants
Charges
Steven Phan
Brooklyn, NY
Age: 33
CPCS 5th – 1 ct
William Brako
Queens, NY
Age: 24
CSCS 5th – 1 ct
CPCS 5th – 1 ct
Nina Fink
New York, NY
Age: 22
CSCS 5th – 1 ct
CPCS 5th – 1 ct
Mohamed Ahir
Brooklyn, NY
Age: 44
CSCS 5th – 1 ct
The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
