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Department of Justice Press Release
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For Immediate Release
June 17, 2009
United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of New York
Contact: (212) 637-2600

Eight Charged with Narcotics Trafficking and Other Offenses

LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and PETER J. SMITH, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE"), announced the filing yesterday of an Indictment charging HUSNAIN RAZA HUSSAIN, a/k/a "Raza Hussain," a/k/a "Qazi," a/k/a "Quazi," SHAKESQUE D. SINGLETARY, a/k/a "Shah," GUSTAVO CANALES, a/k/a "Gustav," a/k/a "Goose," RAYMOND ESPINAL, ALEX SANCHEZ, ELIGIO MARQUEZ, a/k/a "Eli," a/k/a "E," AHMED SOHAIL, and ADNAN SHAH with various narcotics and firearms trafficking charges. In addition, HUSSAIN is also charged with attempting to travel to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in order to engage in a sexual act with a person under eighteen years of age. All the defendants except MARQUEZ were arrested on May 18, 2009, pursuant to criminal Complaints filed in Manhattan federal court; MARQUEZ was arrested on May 20. HUSSAIN, CANALES and MARQUEZ were ordered detained pending trial; the remaining defendants were released on bail. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the Indictment in Manhattan federal court by United States District Judge PAUL A. CROTTY on July 23, 2009, at 2 p.m.

The Indictment filed today charges HUSSAIN, 37, of Yonkers, New York, SINGLETARY, 31, of Manhattan, New York, CANALES, 31, of Bronx, New York, ESPINAL, 31, of Bronx, New York, SANCHEZ, 36, of Yonkers, New York, MARQUEZ, 27, of Hillside, New Jersey, SOHAIL, 43, of Queens, New York, and SHAH, 37, of East Haven, Connecticut, with the following offenses, carrying the following potential penalties:

Count Charge Defendants Maximum Penalty
1 Conspiracy to distribute heroin HUSSAIN,
SINGLETARY
40 years in
prison
2 Conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine HUSSAIN,
CANALES,
ESPINAL,
SANCHEZ,
MARQUEZ,
SOHAIL
Life in prison
3 Conspiracy to import heroin HUSSAIN,
SOHAIL
Life in prison
4 Attempted heroin distribution MARQUEZ 40 years in
prison
5 Conspiracy to illegally transfer firearm HUSSAIN,
SHAH
Five years in
prison
6 Attempt to travel internationally to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor HUSSAIN 30 years in
prison

Mr. DASSIN praised the investigative work of the FBI and ICE.

Assistant United States Attorneys JASON B. SMITH and NICHOLAS J. LEWIN are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaints and Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.