WESTCHESTER---A suspended Westchester County corrections officer has pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs.

Michael Gray, 44, of Hawthorne, has pleaded guilty to one count of third degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class C felony, and a single count of first degree promoting prison contraband, a class D felony.

Gray was involved in a cocaine and other illegal narcotics distribution network operating in the Bronx and Westchester with numerous other individuals, including Jason Mandera, in 2005.Gray has been accused of selling cocaine to at least one other county correction officer as well as bringing cocaine into the Westchester County Jail in August, 2005.

Gray will be sentenced on June 14 when he is expected to receive one year in jail on each count, the sentences to run concurrently.

A year long multi-agency task force investigation was conducted which included Westchester County District Attorney Investigators, New York State Police, New York City Police, Yonkers Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office (SDNY), Hastings-on-Hudson Police, Westchester County Corrections, Larchmont Police, Elmsford Police, White Plains Police, Mount Pleasant Police and Pelham and Pelham Manor Police.

On Dec. 6, 2005, numerous wiretaps and search warrants were executed throughout the Bronx and Westchester County for illegal weapons and cocaine. A shoot-out commenced while police were serving the warrants in which Michael Londonio was killed and two members of the New York State Police were wounded. Londonio reportedly headed a drug ring that engaged in millions of dollars worth of drug trafficking. Jason Mandara and John Tomero of the Bronx allegedly took part in the drug trafficking. Police recovered eight loaded handguns, a hand grenade, two ounces of cocaine, over $25,000 in drug proceeds, two fake Security Enforcement Agent shields and several ski masks from Londonio's residence. Police seized over a kilogram of cocaine and a handgun inside of Tomero's residence. Juan Agramonte, 42, of the Bronx, has been indicted for third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and other crimes.

Other members and associates of the 'Tanglewood Boys' gang who have previously pleaded guilty in Westchester County or Supreme Court are Anthony Delvecchio of Tuckahoe, who was sentenced to three and a half years in state prison for third degree attempted criminal sale of controlled substance; Mark "Stymie" Maiuzzo of Yonkers, who pleaded guilty to third degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon and is currently serving a three year state prison sentence; Ronald Mucciolo of Yonkers, who pleaded guilty to third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and is currently serving a two and a half year state prison sentence; Peter Moreschi of Yonkers, who pleaded guilty to fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and is scheduled to begin serving a state prison sentence on May 17; Shannon Patterson of White Plains, who pleaded guilty to fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and is serving a three and a half year state prison sentence; Michael Rueger of Hastings, who pleaded guilty to third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and is serving a state prison sentence; former Westchester County Corrections Officer Tim Connolly of Yonkers, who pleaded guilty to second degree hindering prosecution and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years probation; Chris Marsala of Yonkers, who pleaded guilty to third degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge.
3-26-07

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