(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the jury’s guilty verdict for drug trafficking against 39-year-old Keston Braithwaite.
“This defendant deliberately attempted to profit from the addictions of others by selling a product that had the potential to destroy countless of our Suffolk County residents’ lives,” said Tierney. “The jury’s verdict of guilt ensures that this defendant will face serious consequences and sends the message that anyone seeking to traffic Fentanyl and other deadly drugs in Suffolk County will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The evidence presented at trial established that from August 27, 2019 to May 19, 2020, Braithwaite operated as a major supplier of a multi-million dollar narcotics distribution network based out of western Suffolk County. Though a Brooklyn resident, Braithwaite maintained a stash house on Southport Street, Ronkonkoma, where he routinely bagged significant quantities of cocaine and fentanyl for local redistribution. He was arrested by the Suffolk County Police Department on May 19, 2020 at his New York City residence. A search warrant executed at the stash house on that same date recovered over two kilograms of fentanyl, approximately one kilogram of cocaine, six loaded firearms, significant quantities of cutting agents, packaging materials, and digital scales, a money counter, and approximately $20,000 U.S. currency.
The jury found Braithwaite guilty on all eleven counts, which are as follows:
• One count of Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker/Profiteer Sells $75K or More, a class A-1 felony;
• One count of Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker/Profiteer Possesses $75K or More, a class A-1 felony;
• Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony;
• Criminal Possession Weapon in the Second Degree for Possessing Five or More Firearms, a class C violent felony;
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, each a class A-1 felony;
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree- Narcotic Drug with Intent to Sell, each a class B felony; and
• Three counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, each a class A misdemeanor.
Braithwaite has a prior 2014 conviction for a predicate felony in New York City of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and previously served an 18-month sentence in prison for that crime. In addition, Braithwaite has three misdemeanor convictions for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree – Narcotic Drug Intent to Sell and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He has remained in custody on bail, in the amount of $2.5 million cash/$5 million bond, during the pendency of the prosecution, though he was remanded without bail upon conviction.
At sentencing, he faces up a mandatory minimum of 15 to life in prison for each count of Operating as a Major Trafficker.
The trial was conducted before the Honorable Justice John B. Collins, of the Suffolk County Supreme Court. Braithwaite is represented by Sean Dixon, Esq. He is due back in court for sentencing on August 22, 2022.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jacob Kubetz and Dennis Wouters of the Narcotics Bureau.