DA: Medford Resident to be Indicted for Involvement in Heroin Ring

A Medford resident will be indicted Monday for participation in a heroin-prostitution ring that took place throughout Suffolk County, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office (SCDA).

Jahiteak Appling, 21, is one of several who are scheduled to be indicted by Judge Stephen L. Braslow Monday at Suffolk County Criminal Courthouse in Riverhead on Monday morning. 

The ring, which the SCDA says took place in Patchogue, Medford, Coram, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Farmingville, Centereach, Selden, Middle Island and other areas, was dismantled following a long-term investigation by the SCDA's Heroin Task Force that began in June 2011.

Also being indicted are Sandra Russell, 26 of Coram, Steven Mcdaniel, 29 of Coram, Taquan Rashad, 43 of Bronx, Lee Appling, 46 of Coram, David Holmes, 51 of Coram, Jennifer Licata, 23 of Farmingville and Deborah Trezza, 22 of Coram.

According to SCDA, Russell and Mcdaniel were the ringleaders, Rashad was the supplier to Russell, Appling assisted Russell and ran a stash house, and Holmes, Licata, Appling and Trezza served as "runners" for the ring.

At a press conference Monday morning at the courthouse including heroin, the SCDA said diamond necklaces, Rolex watches with price tags attached, written instructions to Russell from Mcdaniel for running a prosititution ring and cash seized by Suffolk County District Attorney's Heroin Task Force detectives will be displayed. 

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update as more information becomes available.