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Suffolk County Correctional Facility

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. announced on Nov. 16 that JYZIR HAMILTON, ALYSSA BRIENZA, JANIAH WILLIAMS, ERIC FREEMAN, and ARNOLD FOSTER, were indicted for conspiring to smuggle fentanyl-infused paperwork into the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.

“This group not only allegedly attempted to smuggle deadly fentanyl into the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, but they also attempted to use an unsuspecting defense attorney to deliver it. Had any of the fentanyl from the laced sheets of paper been ingested in any way, through touch or otherwise, the results could have been deadly,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Fortunately, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office thwarted this alleged conspiracy before anyone was hurt. Drug dealers will continue to come up with elaborate schemes like the one alleged here in order to peddle lethal drugs, all while the current New York State law remain non-bail eligible. Our state legislators must act now in order to keep fentanyl dealers off the street in order to save lives,”

“If these criminals were successful in their attempt to smuggle more than $20,000 of deadly fentanyl into the jail there is no doubt that tragedy would have followed,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Erroll D. Toulon Jr.

“This discovery of attempted drug trafficking could not have been made without the intelligence gleamed from our newly established Corrections Intelligence Center who were able to work with neighboring jurisdictions to get prudent information that aided the investigation and ultimately led to an arrest,” said Sheriff Toulon. “This case is another stellar example of collaborative law enforcement and the partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office has once again stopped drugs from getting into the wrong hands.”

HAMILTON, 35, of Hauppauge, was indicted for:

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third, Class

    C felonies;

  •   One count of Attempted Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class

    A misdemeanor; and

  •   One count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

    BRIENZA, 30, of Calverton, was indicted for:

  •   One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A

    felony;

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third, Class B felonies;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third, a Class B felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class

    C felony;

  •   One count of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class A

    misdemeanor; and

  •   One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.

    WILLIAMS, 24, of Central Islip, was indicted for:

  •   One count of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a

    Class A felony;

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B

    felonies; and

  •   One count of Attempted Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

    FREEMAN, 48, of Huntington Station, was indicted for:

 One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony.

FOSTER, 33, of Centereach, was indicted for:

 One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony.

The Suffolk County Correctional Facility monitors and records various types of communications initiated by inmates. The inmates at the Suffolk County correctional facilities are notified of the monitoring.

According to the investigation, on August 22, 2023, deputy sheriff investigators received information from Suffolk County Correctional Facility correction officers that HAMILTON, an inmate at the jail, was allegedly planning for WILLIAMS, his girlfriend, to deliver fentanyl-laced papers to him through his defense attorney, who allegedly had no knowledge of the plan. HAMILTON was incarcerated in Suffolk County for a number of pending criminal charges, including Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

HAMILTON then allegedly placed a series of calls to ALYSSA BRIENZA where he asked BRIENZA about obtaining fentanyl. BRIENZA then allegedly spoke to FOSTER, who, at the time, was serving a prison sentence at the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, for a conviction of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. During his conversations with BRIENZA, FOSTER set the price for the fentanyl to be sold to HAMILTON. Once HAMILTON learned of the cost from BRIENZA, he then allegedly spoke to WILLIAMS who was to arrange for the delivery of the fentanyl to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.

On August 19, 2023, BRIENZA allegedly delivered four blank pages to WILLIAMS that were sprayed with a liquid laced with fentanyl. HAMILTON then allegedly instructed WILLIAMS to contact an attorney representing FREEMAN. FREEMAN had informed his attorney that someone would be delivering legal documents to him. FREEMAN then asked his attorney to pass the documents, delivered by WILLIAMS, to him.

On August 23, 2023, after contacting the attorney and advising him that she was on her way, WILLIAMS was then arrested by deputy sheriffs as she entered the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex building in Riverhead. Deputy sheriffs allegedly found a manilla envelope containing four pages with legal terms printed on them in WILLIAMS’ possession.

The four pages were submitted to the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory for testing. The laboratory analysis revealed the presence of fentanyl.

On October 3, 2023, BRIENZA was arrested, and law enforcement allegedly found one-eighth ounce of cocaine, $1,130 in cash, and a scale inside her vehicle. Also, inside BRIENZA’s vehicle at the time was her four-year-old child.

On November 15, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro ordered HAMILTON to be remanded during the pendency of his case, which is awaiting sentencing on previous charges of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. HAMILTON’s charges under this indictment are not bail eligible. He is being represented by Jon Manley, Esq. His next court date is on December 18, 2023.

FREEMAN is remanded without bail on charges pending before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, including Attempted Rape in the First Degree. Freeman is a persistent eligible violent felony offender, which makes him eligible for bail on this indictment.

On November 15, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, Justice Ambro ordered FREEMAN held on $500,000 cash, $2 million bond or $5 million partially secured bond. FREEMAN is being represented by John Halverson, Esq. His next court date is December 18, 2023.

BRIENZA, FOSTER and WILLIAMS are scheduled to be arraigned on November 27, 2023, before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dennis Wouters of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Corrections Intelligence Center, and Internal Security, all with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in addition to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).

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Participants in the Handcuffs to Healing program at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility show off their progress during a press conference Oct. 4. Photo by Kevin Redding

In a new program at Yaphank Correctional Facility, Suffolk County inmates and homeless dogs are helping each other get a second chance.

Six men in orange jumpsuits lined up on the grounds of the jail Oct. 4, each with a shelter dog at their side, and took turns walking their four-legged companions around in a large circle, demonstrating the dog’s new socialization skills along the way. With a quick command, the dogs either sat, stayed or laid down. One of the dogs, named Bain, an 11-month-old Rottweiler, even showed off how he can help someone get back on their feet — literally.

Participants in the Handcuffs to Healing program at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility show off their progress during a press conference Oct. 4. Photo by Kevin Redding

The demonstration was all part of a presentation of Handcuffs to Healing, a pilot program that teaches low-risk, nonviolent offenders to train abandoned dogs — Rottweilers, pit bulls and German Shepherds plucked from the Brookhaven Town animal shelter.

The aim of the program, which started in mid-September, is to socialize the dogs well enough so they can be put up for adoption. But it’s also doing plenty of good for their trainers too. The inmates train the dogs three nights a week for two hours each day.

“We’re rehabilitating humans through animals,” said Michael Gould, the president and founder of Hounds Town Charities, who pitched the idea of the dog training program to Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco in the spring. “When I see inmates, I see humans. When I see these big, powerful dogs, I see animals that shouldn’t be in a shelter.”

Gould, a former commanding officer of the Nassau County Police Canine Unit, admitted these breeds of dogs are difficult to adopt out because they carry reputations of being dangerous. But they are caring, loving and now well-trained, thanks to the inmates, Gould added.

“These are among the best dogs you can come across,” he said. With a quick snap of his fingers, the dog at Gould’s side stopped and sat at attention. “Everything is low-key. There’s no crazy energy. It’s all about structure and love. Firm hand. Kind heart.”

Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas said he believes the program will reduce recidivism among the inmates, all of whom are serving a local sentence.

“This program gives the inmates the opportunity to learn responsibility,” Kuehhas said. He also added the program may help the inmate’s’ chances of employment, in an animal shelter or as a dog handler, after they leave. He called the program a win-win situation.

Jackie Bondanza, a Hounds Town representative and one of the program’s coordinators, said she’s noticed significant changes among the inmates and dogs since the program started.

“It’s been a very inspiring transformation,” she said. “When the inmates first came, they were all composed and didn’t want to be here. They’ve since really opened up and I think it’s helped build their confidence. Same with the dogs. These dogs would be sitting in cages in a shelter a majority of the day otherwise. This is incredible for them.”

Participants in the Handcuffs to Healing program at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility show off their progress during a press conference Oct. 4. Photo by Kevin Redding

The inmates turned dog trainers were chosen by the sheriff’s department under the criteria of being nonviolent offenders and being physically capable of handling their canine.

One of the inmates — Joseph Dima, 36, from Bohemia — said he was thinking of his own dog back home when he signed up for the program.

“To help these dogs find a home and owners that will handle them well — that was a big thing for me,” Dima said, referring to the pit bull he was assigned to, Carl, as a loving mush. “He’s such a great dog. People get the wrong misconceptions about pit bulls. He just wants affection. All the dogs do.”

When the dogs weren’t demonstrating their new skills, they were perched next to their trainers, being petted and rubbed. During the course of the program, the dogs live at Hounds Town Charities, which is housed in Ronkonkoma. Plans are in place to continue Handcuffs to Healing after the expiration of the current six-week program as those behind it seek corporate sponsors and residents interested in adopting the dogs.

“There’s nothing like a dog to help an inmate heal,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R), who spoke during the event. “These are six dogs and six inmates needing a fresh start. It’s a tremendous program and one we’re going to continue.”

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