Caleb Moran, Jessica Medina-Rivas charged with running $2M drug operation out of Holbrook home

A Holbrook couple allegedly operated a major narcotics operation out of a former police vehicle investigators believe they used to avoid law enforcement attention and a home where a record amount of methamphetamines were recovered, Suffolk police and prosecutors announced Monday.

Caleb Moran and Jessica Medina-Rivas, both 28, are accused of possessing nearly $2 million in methamphetamines, cocaine, fentanyl and other drugs recovered from a home they rented on Tarkington Road, prosecutors said. Police also seized $118,000 cash from the home, authorities said.

"This is one of the largest in the history of Suffolk County and certainly the largest crystal meth seizure that we've ever had in the county," Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said at a news conference Monday.

The arrests were the result of a monthslong investigation that saw the duo allegedly sell drugs to an undercover officer on five occasions, with Moran bragging about how he cut his fentanyl with soap and other dilutants to increase profits, prosecutors said.

A 32-count indictment unsealed before State Supreme Court Justice John Collins charges Moran and Medina-Rivas with operating as a major trafficker, first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal sale of a controlled substance, along with a gun possession charge, records show. Assistant District Attorney Tess Andrew noted in court that operating as a major trafficker is the top narcotics offense someone could be charged with, punishable by 15 years to life in prison.

Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said the operation was "a blight" on the Holbrook community.

"They don't want this in their community," Tierney said. "And all of the communities in Suffolk County where drug houses like this are being operated, the people who live in those communities, people who work in those communities, and the people who raise children in those communities, do not want this narcotic activity."

Both Moran, who prosecutors noted also used the first name Liam, and Medina-Rivas pleaded not guilty at their arraignments. Collins continued the $2 million cash bail or $8 million bond set in the lower court following their initial arrests on the charges.

Moran is due back in court Oct. 28. Medina-Rivas is next expected to appear Oct. 27.

An undercover Suffolk police officer allegedly made several drug purchases from Medina-Rivas and Moran in July and August, according to court records. The meetings took place in a former Southampton Town police vehicle — a blacked out Ford Explorer — Moran purchased at auction, prosecutors said.

Tierney said the vehicle, which resembled the type law enforcement uses in undercover operations, ended up drawing attention to the couple as Suffolk police detectives grew concerned they might have come across a separate investigation being conducted by another agency.

Moran’s attorney, Ray Perini, of Islandia, called the idea that his client was attempting to evade law enforcement with his vehicle "speculation, pure guesswork."

"You go to an auction, you get a good buy and that's why you do it," Perini said. "I doubt they were pretending to be cops or anything sinister."

Both Perini and attorney Robert Macedonio, of Islip Terrace, who represents Medina-Rivas, said their clients deny the allegations against them.

"These are serious charges, but at this point, they are allegations," Macedonio said. "We've entered pleas of not guilty. We have yet to see any evidence."

An Aug. 22 raid of the couple’s home unveiled a room in the house where they allegedly packaged and processed drugs for sale as officers recovered a pill press, blenders used to mix drugs, a vacuum sealer, money counters and the soap used as a dilutant, prosecutors alleged in a bail letter filed Monday.

Police also recovered 14 kilograms of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamines, thousands of counterfeit pills, about 20 pounds of cannabis and quantities of fentanyl, MDMA, black tar heroin and steroids, prosecutors said.

A Ruger .38 revolver, Remington 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition and two bulletproof vests were also seized at the home, the bail letter said.

Investigators also found about 80 pounds of cannabis that day at a Patchogue motor sports business operated by Moran’s father, who was not charged, prosecutors said. Subsequent UPS shipments of cannabis from California to the business were later intercepted, records show.

Perini said his client’s father has cooperated with police and is not suspected of any wrongdoing. Tierney said the investigation is continuing.

Both Moran and Medina-Rivas have prior drug arrests, prosecutors said, and Medina-Rivas was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries earlier this year.