Long Island Man 'Guilty' Of Multiple Gun, Drug Charges Faces Life In Prison: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Bellport man was found guilty of numerous drug and weapon charges on Monday in a Riverside courtroom in connection with selling drugs to an undercover narcotics officer, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

Johnnie Funderburke sold heroin and cocaine to an undercover detective from Suffolk police's Narcotics Section in June 2021, and the following month, the police department executed a search warrant of his home where they recovered fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, two digital scales, cash, and a loaded 9 mm pistol, Tierney's office said.

Funderburke, 38, faces life in prison when he is due back in court on July 12 for sentencing.

Funderburke is the father of Jannell Funderburke, who was charged last month in connection with the shooting of Suffolk Police Officer Michael Lafauci, according to a spokeswoman for Tierney's office.

Tierney said Funderburke tried "to push deadly drugs into our Suffolk County communities."

"The possibility of the defendant receiving a life sentence should send a clear message that if you sell drugs in Suffolk County, you will be held accountable, and the penalties will be severe," he said.

Tierney said he commends Suffolk police's Narcotics Section "for their hard work on this case."

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Christopher Brocato of Central Islip, for comment.

Funderburke was found guilty after a jury trial of one count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; five counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; as well as six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Other charges included one count each of second-and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was additionally found guilty of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Funderburke has multiple prior felony convictions, including second-degree attempted robbery and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon from 2007, and second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon in 2011.