Allege NYPD Mechanic Drove Drug-Pusher During Major Buy
By TOMMY HALLISSEY
A Manhattan grand jury has indicted an NYPD Mechanic as part of an investigation of street-level crack cocaine sales near the Dyckman Housing Development in Upper Manhattan, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau announced.

Operation Snoop — a nine-month investigation by the DA's Firearms Trafficking Unit, the NYPD Manhattan North Narcotics Major Case Squad and the 34th Precinct Detectives Squad — brought arrests that led to eight indictments on conspiracy and drug possession charges.

Involved in Buying Kilo

Benny Garay, 48, a civilian employee of the NYPD, was arrested March 7 when police executed a search warrant at 2181 Wallace Ave. in The Bronx. Mr. Garay allegedly drove Lillian Rivera, 29, to purchase a kilogram of cocaine in Manhattan, the indictment charges. They brought the cocaine back to The Bronx apartment, where police arrested them. Mr. Garay, who possessed about half a kilogram of cocaine, showed his NYPD identification card when approached by a police officer, according to the DA.

Mr. Garay, who lives in The Bronx, was charged with second-degree conspiracy and three different counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. He faces a sentence of up to 28-1/3 years in prison if convicted. He pleaded not guilty and was held without bail.

On June 25, police apprehended Julian Silva, the supplier for Ms. Rivera, in Florida. He was arraigned July 15 and charged with felony drug sale and possession charges. He pleaded not guilty and remains in jail.

The Rivera Organization operated out of an apartment in the Dyckman Housing Development on Tenth Avenue in Manhattan, according to the DA's Office. The organization stored, processed and packaged narcotics for sale at the street or retail level. Its members used cell phones to avoid detection by police, but authorities intercepted cell phone calls for about six months from October through April. Ms. Rivera was charged with conspiracy in addition to sale and possession charges. She faces more than 70 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

The indictment of Mr. Garay and six other individuals depicts a pattern of drug sale starting in August 2007 by the Rivera Organization, but only mentions the NYPD mechanic in connection with the March 7 sale.