Suffolk Man Accused Of Selling Cocaine, Possessing Loaded Firearms: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Brentwood man was indicted on drug charges in connection with selling cocaine, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Monday.

Aris A. Chaparro, 55, was accused of selling cocaine to an undercover police officer multiple times, which caused an investigation to be launched, the DA said. A search warrant was executed at Chaparro's home, where authorities say they discovered cocaine, two loaded firearms, and paraphernalia commonly used for narcotics distribution.

"This defendant allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover police officer on multiple occasions, leading law enforcement to recover not only narcotics from his home also multiple illegal firearms, including one with a defaced serial number," Tierney said in a news release. "These kinds of weapons, combined with drug dealing, fuel violence and put our community at risk. I thank the Suffolk County Police Department's Narcotics Section’s work in helping us hold individuals who choose to profit from selling illicit drugs in Suffolk County fully accountable."

On four separate occasions throughout July, Chaparro sold cocaine to an undercover police officer, prosecutors said. During each occasion, the undercover officer called Chaparro on his cellular phone to arrange the purchase of the cocaine, officials said.

Chaparro told the officer to meet him at various locations, including a gas station and a fast-food restaurant in Brentwood, investigators said. During one of the buys, Chaparro sold the officer approximately two and one-half ounces of cocaine, authorities said.

On Aug. 6, the Suffolk County Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at
Chaparro’s home, where they recovered more than a quarter kilogram of cocaine and approximately
$13,000 in cash, prosecutors said.

Officers also seized a Smith & Wesson 0.44 Magnum revolver, a defaced Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol, two ammunition magazines, multiple cellphones, and drug paraphernalia including scales, plastic bags, and a ledger, investigators said.

Chaparro was arraigned Aug. 21 on charges of one count of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; one count of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; one count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and three counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia, the DA said.

Chaparro was ordered held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $1,000,000 partially-secured bond while his case pends. Chaparro is due back in court on Sept. 24 and faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Jason Bassett.