Three Fentanyl Traffickers Convicted by a Jury Sentenced to Prison Terms

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan announced the sentencing of Victor ROSARIO ARIAS, the last of three defendants to be sentenced following their convictions by jury for operating a high-level fentanyl packaging and distribution operation centered in Borough Park, Brooklyn. At a sentencing proceeding in New York County Supreme Court late yesterday afternoon, ROSARIO ARIAS was ordered to serve a combined 15 years in prison and 5 years of post-release supervision on charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree.

On July 22, 2026, a Manhattan jury returned guilty verdicts against ROSARIO ARIAS, Jonathan RAMOS, and Steven FABIAN TINEO, following a seven-week trial before Justice Juan M. Merchan. During yesterday’s sentencing of ROSARIO ARIAS, Justice Merchan called him a danger to society and noted the fentanyl trade costs countless people their lives on a daily basis.

RAMOS and FABIAN TINEO were also convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Conspiracy in the Second Degree. RAMOS was sentenced to 13 years in prison and 5 years of post-release supervision on September 30, 2026, while FABIAN TINEO was sentenced to 9 years in prison and 5 years of post-release supervision on September 2, 2026.

Yesterday’s proceeding concludes a prosecution by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) in which a total of six individuals were convicted for their roles in the narcotics organization.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “A 15-year prison sentence imposed on Victor Rosario Arias yesterday marks the end of criminal proceedings against six members of a prolific fentanyl trafficking ring and reflects the serious threat this organization posed. The long-term investigation dismantled a fentanyl packaging mill run out of a Borough Park Brooklyn apartment in 2024. The tenacious investigation, painstaking collection of evidence, and trial presentation, exemplify our dedication to protecting our city from anyone who seeks to profit from putting drug users lives at risk.”

The six-month investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Task Force Division (DEA-NYTFD), Group T-43 with assistance from SNP’s Investigators Unit. DEA-NYTFD Group T-43 is comprised of agents and officers with the DEA, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police.

A total of two firearms and eight kilograms of narcotics were recovered in the long-term investigation, with the bulk of the drugs seized from the fentanyl packaging mill.  Glassine envelopes filled with mixtures of fentanyl, heroin, and other substances were stamped with various brand names, including “Spin City,” “Sorry Charlie,” “Funky Monkey,” and “420 Venom.”

On May 9, 2024, law enforcement conducted a court authorized search of the fentanyl mill at 923 64^th Street, Apt. 2A. RAMOS and another man, Angel CRUZ TINEO, were arrested inside the apartment. Video footage and other evidence presented at trial showed ROSARIO ARIAS had also been present in the apartment but fled through a kitchen window into an alleyway that led to the rear of the building.

During the search of the apartment, agents and officers found large quantities of narcotics on a table in a hallway and on top of kitchen counters. Mixtures of fentanyl, heroin, and other substances had been packaged into thousands of individual dose glassine envelopes. A loaded firearm was recovered from an upper cabinet in the kitchen. One cabinet featured a hidden trap compartment that contained large quantities of narcotics, including glassines filled with fentanyl, and a second loaded firearm with ammunition.

A large kilo pressing machine used to form narcotics into bricks was found in an open closet. All the materials and equipment necessary to package narcotics were present in the apartment. Agents and officers also recovered approximately seven bottles of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer commonly mixed with fentanyl. Over $28,000 cash was also seized. Brayan PEREZ was arrested on the street near 923 64^th Street. Video surveillance showed he had left the apartment shortly before the search.

Agents and officers continued their search for ROSARIO ARIAS for several weeks. On June 20, 2024, they tracked his car to Glendale, Queens. Another member of the narcotics organization, Yeiby RUFFEN JACQUEZ, was driving the vehicle and a package tucked into his waistband proved to contain narcotics and stamped glassine envelopes, some of which matched a brand name found inside 923 64th Street, Apt. 2A.

That same day, agents and officers observed ROSARIO ARIAS and FABIAN TINEO place bags in the trunk of FABIAN TINEO’s Jeep and then enter the vehicle. Agents stopped them and ARIAS was arrested. A drug-sniffing K-9 alerted positively to the presence of narcotics. Following a search of the Jeep, agents and officers recovered over a kilogram of fentanyl and drug packaging equipment from the trunk and from a hidden trap behind the radio/center console. Glassines envelopes filled with narcotics were marked with stamps matching those recovered inside of 923 64th Street, Apt. 2A.

CRUZ TINEO pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and received a sentence of 12 years in prison and five years post-release supervision on July 13, 2026. PEREZ and RUFFEN JACQUEZ also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in the fentanyl trafficking network.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzatez and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and commended Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Wen, Uriel Kucawa, and Adrian Murphy of SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau, SNP’s Investigators Unit, Supervising Paralegal Cindy Cintron, TPA’s Jazleen Galvez, Jose Saldana, Kristine Lamburini, Kayla Paolicelli, Madeline Camilleri, Irina Diaz, Diallo McKnight, Analyst Jodi Arnold, Interpreters Luis Vernon, Lisa Lawrence, and Kiran Chand, and Deputies in Charge Patrick Slattery and Victor Roman of the Digital Forensics and Litigation Unit for their work on the prosecution and trial. Special Prosecutor Brennan commended the DEA New York Task Force Division, Group T-43, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police, for their work on the investigation.