MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COCAINE RING BUSTED IN THE BRONX!

A $1 million-a-month Bronx cocaine ring was busted with the indictment of 40 suspects - including its two kingpins - after a two-year probe, Bronx prosecutors said Friday.

The drug operation, based in a 30-block corridor along White Plains Road, sold an estimated seven kilograms a week of crack and powdered cocaine, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson said.

The ring was headed by Sean "Showboy" Nelson, 31, and Jason Weir, 27, who both face life in prison under the state's drug kingpin statute, Johnson said.

Nelson, of the Bronx, was held without bail following his arraignment before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett.

Weir, also of the Bronx, waived extradition after his arrest in Norwalk, Conn. He was expected back in the Bronx for arraignment next week.

A Bronx grand jury returned a 135-count indictment against 40 members of the ring. In addition to selling drugs, Nelson and Weir supervised the sales of street vendors inside the 47th Precinct, the indictment charges.

Some of the defendants also sold drugs to customers from upstate New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, authorities said.

Undercover detectives made more than 50 drug buys since the probe began in spring 2009, ranging from a few grams of cocaine to the purchase of 2 1/2 ounces of the drug, Johnson said.

Cops executing search warrants Thursday night and Friday morning recovered 48 ounces of crack, powdered cocaine and heroin, along with a handgun and $67,000 cash.

Prosecutors also had hundreds of taped telephone conversations linked to the drug ring, Johnson said.



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