SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S EAST END DRUG TASK FORCE’S INVESTIGATION OF FATAL OVERDOSE IN ALBANY LEADS TO THE ARREST OF EIGHT DEFENDANTS FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION AND ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrests of LASHAWN LAWRENCE, MELISSA FLYTHE, SHAWN SMILEY, DAVID BROWN, AMYLYN SPINELLI, JAMAL LAWRENCE, WILLIE DAVENDER, and ZANTE DAVENDER, who are accused of narcotics trafficking, sales, and gun possession, on Long Island’s North Fork, after a long-term investigation was conducted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s East End Drug Task Force (EEDTF) and the Southold Police Department.

“What began as a tragic fatal overdose in Albany led us to uncover a significant drug trafficking operation here in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The fact that the victim’s family, amid their grief, had the presence of mind to contact law enforcement, led to the unraveling of an alleged criminal organization and the arrests of these eight individuals. I urge any families who are unfortunately in similar circumstances, to call my office or the Suffolk County Police Department, so that we may seek justice for the untimely death of your loved one.”

“On behalf of the Southold Town Police Department, I want to thank the East End Drug Task Force for their relentless commitment and tireless efforts to keeping our community safe,” said Southold Police Department Captain Steve Grattan. “Their recent success in combatting illegal drug activity is a testament to their teamwork and dedication.”

In August 2023, the investigation began after a family contacted the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s EEDTF regarding a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred in June 2023 in Albany County. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that SMILEY had allegedly mailed counterfeit oxycodone pills to the victim prior to his death.

After SMILEY allegedly obtained illicit pills from FLYTHE, he then sold the pills at various locations on the North Fork. Law enforcement then learned that FLYTHE’s boyfriend, LASHAWN LAWRENCE, was also allegedly involved in trafficking fentanyl and oxycodone pills.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement utilized a multitude of investigative techniques, including, but not limited to physical and electronic surveillance. As a result, they identified additional alleged co-conspirators in the trafficking operation, including BROWN, JAMAL LAWRENCE, and SPINELLI.

On August 22, 2024, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants. One of the search warrants was executed at LASHAWN LAWRENCE’s and FLYTHE’s apartment in Riverhead. Inside the apartment, law enforcement allegedly found a loaded and unserialized semi-automatic pistol, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” fentanyl that was packaged for individual sale, and oxycodone pills.

Search warrants were also executed at SMILEY’s apartment in Greenport, where law enforcement allegedly found oxycodone pills, and at his storage unit, where law enforcement allegedly found two loaded firearms.

A search warrant was executed at the home of JAMAL LAWRENCE and SPINELLI in Greenport, where law enforcement allegedly recovered cocaine that was packaged for individual sale.

Additionally, a search warrant was executed at BROWN’s apartment in Riverhead, where he was allegedly found in possession of over a half ounce of cocaine and over a half ounce of a substance believed to be fentanyl, which were packaged for sale. During the warrant execution at the apartment, ZANTE DAVENDER was allegedly found in possession of oxycodone pills, and WILLIE DAVENDER was allegedly found in possession of an unregistered firearm.

LASHAWN LAWRENCE, 40, of Riverhead, was charged with:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
• One count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

LASHAWN LAWRENCE was arraigned on the charges on August 23, 2024, and was remanded during the pendency of the case. LASHAWN LAWRENCE is due back in court on September 24, 2024, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He is being represented by Anthony Rutkowski, Esq.

FLYTHE, 45, of Riverhead, was charged with:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
• One count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

FLYTHE was arraigned on the on the charges on August 23, 2024, and bail was set in the amount of $250,000 cash and $500,000 insurance company bond during the pendency of the case. FLYTHE is due back in court on September 10, 2024, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. She is currently not represented by an attorney.

SMILEY, 53, of Greenport, was charged with:

• One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies; and
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.

SMILEY was arraigned on the charges on August 23, 2024, and was remanded during the pendency of the case. SMILEY is due back in court on September 13, 2024, faces up 15 years in prison if convicted. He is being represented by Melissa Aguanno, Esq.

BROWN, 48, of Riverhead, was charged with:

• Four Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
• One count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony; and
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

BROWN was arraigned on the charges on August 23, 2024, and was remanded during the pendency of the case. BROWN is due back in court on October 9, 2024, and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is currently represented by the Legal Aid Society.

JAMAL LAWRENCE, 49, of Greenport, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. LAWRENCE was arraigned on the charges on August 23, 2024, and he was remanded during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on September 13, 2024, and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted of the top count. LAWRENCE is being represented by Oscar Crisafio, Esq.

SPINELLI, 41, of Greenport, was charged with one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. SPINELLI is scheduled to be arraigned on September 6, 2024, and faces up to two to four years in prison if convicted.

WILLIE DAVENDER, 53, of Riverhead, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony. WILLIE DAVENDER is scheduled to be arraigned on September 9, 2024, and faces up to one and one-third to four years in prison if convicted.

ZANTE DAVENDER, 25, of Riverhead, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. ZANTE DAVENDER is scheduled to be arraigned on September 9, 2024, and faces up to 364 days in jail if convicted.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force is comprised of members of the District Attorney Investigators, East Hampton Town Police Department, New York State Police, Riverhead Police Department, Southold Police Department, Southampton Town Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicole Felice of the Narcotics Bureau. The civil asset forfeiture action is being litigated by the Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Bureau. The investigation was conducted by members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force, along with detectives from the Southold Police Department.

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Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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