New York City police have arrested a ring of suspected drug dealers who had been selling heroin, oxycodone and other drugs in southern Brooklyn – but had been shutting down operations every Friday evening to observe Shabbat.
The five defendants were charged as part of a six month probe dubbed “Only after Sundown,” New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said in a news release.
WCBS 880 reported that the five defendants are Jack Zibak, 28; Jack Zaibak, 24; Eduard Sorin, 38; David Gerowitz, 37; and Philip Mandel, 25, who were all charged with selling drugs from an apartment at 4190 Bedford Ave. in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
The drug ring had a very strict policy of observing Shabbat, and text messages repeatedly told customers not to arrive during those hours, prosecutors said.
“He said he can’t do that but he can give you an 8 for 275 but its only gonna be tomorrow because he is closed for Shabbat. And the safe is locked,” the alleged dealers wrote in a March 29 text to one customer.
“We are closing 7:30 on the dot and we will reopen Saturday 8:15 so if u need anything you have 45mins to get what you want,” they texted to another customer on April 12.
The ringmembers allegedly sold 819 glassines with individual doses of heroin, worth nearly $8,500, to undercover officers between March and April.