Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that four individuals from Uniondale were arraigned today on drug charges after search warrants executed yesterday at two locations revealed more than two kilograms of cocaine hidden in audio speakers that were shipped to the residences.
Darius Forrest, 34, was arraigned before Judge Jaclene Agazarian on charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony); three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony). Darius Forrest pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $300,000 cash, $600,000 bond, and $3 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on October 24, 2023. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
Wendell Forrest, 42, was arraigned before Judge Agazarian on charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony); three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony); three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). Wendell Forrest pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, and $5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on October 26, 2023. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 30 years in prison.
Tiffany Goins-Ford, 36, was arraigned before Judge Agazarian on charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony); four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (an A misdemeanor). Goins-Ford pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, and $1.5 million partially secured bond. She is due back in court on October 23, 2023. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
Gregory Quarles-Williams, 41, was arraigned before Judge Agazarian on charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony); four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a B felony); and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (an A misdemeanor). Quarles-Williams pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, and $2.5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on October 24, 2023.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
“These defendants are charged with the possession of more than four pounds of cocaine that was shipped to their doors and secreted away in packaged speakers to evade law enforcement detection. When we receive intelligence that dangerous illicit drugs are en route to Nassau County, we work swiftly to keep them from entering our communities,” said DA Donnelly. “I thank our partners at the Nassau County Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for their investigative efforts that ensured these drugs would never hit the streets of Nassau County.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on October 18, 2023, members of the Nassau County Police Department Narcotics/Vice Squad, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), applied for search warrants at two residences on Clarendon Road and Fenimore Avenue in Uniondale after receiving intelligence that two suspicious packages that originated in the U.S. Virgin Islands were destined for those addresses.
Upon execution of the search warrants, two audio speakers were found that each contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine hidden inside.
The search of the Fenimore Avenue address also recovered approximately 100 grams of additional cocaine, a loaded pistol and loaded revolver, assorted ammunition, a bulletproof vest, and drug packaging materials.
Additional cocaine and pressed M-30 Oxycodone pills were found at the Clarendon Road address.
NCDA thanks the DEA, HSI, and the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance and partnership in this prosecution.
The case is being prosecuted by Firearms Suppression & Intelligence Unit Chief Lee Genser of the Narcotics, Firearms & Gangs Bureau. Darius Forrest is represented by David Haber, Esq. Wendell Forrest is represented by Joseph Carbone, Esq. Tiffany Goins-Ford is represented by Karen Johnston, Esq. Gregory Quarles-Williams is represented by David Haber, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.