A Manhattan man pled guilty to one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree to cover all charges contained in a 19-count indictment filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. The charges stemmed from an undercover investigation by the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Narcotics Borough Manhattan South focused on cocaine trafficking in Hell’s Kitchen.
Under the terms of plea detailed in court today, Patrick SUTHERLAND agreed to serve nine years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, due to his status as a violent predicate felon. The plea occurred immediately following his arraignment on the indictment, with Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Cori H. Weston presiding.
Police arrested SUTHERLAND on June 11, 2025, at approximately 6 a.m. during a court-authorized search of his residence, 457 West 46th Street, Apt. 5A. Nearly four kilograms of cocaine, ketamine and methamphetamine, and a variety of other substances including pills, were recovered along with seven guns.
Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced the resolution of the case following today’s guilty plea.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “The resolution of this case, which involved multiple cocaine sales, significant amounts of drugs, tens of thousands of dollars and seven firearms should bring some relief to a neighborhood beleaguered by illicit drug activity. The firearms that were recovered are a stark reminder of the dangers associated with drug trafficking. I commend the investigators and attorneys involved in this investigation for their hard work and dedication to protecting our communities.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said, “Patrick Sutherland allegedly turned Hell’s Kitchen into his own illegal enterprise – selling large amounts of narcotics next to a playground and stockpiling guns in his apartment. Today’s guilty plea is a reminder of dangerous and brave work that the NYPD does every day to get guns and drugs off our streets and keep New Yorkers out of harm’s way. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators and to the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office for their meticulous work on this case.”
The undercover NYPD investigation ran from February 28 to June 11, 2025, during which time SUTHERLAND is alleged to have conducted four narcotics sales to an undercover in the vicinity of West 46th Street and 9th Avenue. In total, SUTHERLAND sold over 158 grams of cocaine to an undercover officer in exchange for $10,000.
SUTHERLAND’s guilty plea to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree relates to a sale on April 29, 2025, in the vicinity of 449 West 46th Street, across the street from a playground operated by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
During the investigation, police observed SUTHERLAND leaving his apartment before selling cocaine to the undercover officer. The court-authorized search of 457 West 46th Street, Apt. 5A, resulted in the seizure of a wide variety of drugs from throughout the residence, as well as seven guns and over $33,000 cash.
Numerous types of narcotics and controlled substances were recovered, including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine, along with over 10 pounds of marijuana. Approximately 2.6 kilograms of cocaine were discovered in an area between the bedroom and the attic. Various pills were found inside the bedroom, including alprazolam (Xanax), amphetamine, diazepam (Valium), morphine, and oxycodone.
Six guns contained in a red shopping tote were recovered from attic crawl space attached to the apartment. A seventh gun was found in a bedroom closet.
The indictment charged SUTHERLAND with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First, Second, and Third Degrees, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Degrees, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degrees, Criminal Possession of Cannibis in the First Degree, and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.
Under the terms of his guilty plea, in addition to agreeing to serve nine years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, SUTHERLAND must forfeit $33,769.67. He has been held in custody since his arrest in June with bail set at $450,000 cash/$700,000 bond.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Manhattan District Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. for his office’s collaboration, and commended SNP’s Trial Division and the New York City Police Department’s Narcotics Borough Manhattan South for their work on the investigation.
