Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Federal authorities announced on May 12 that Ruddy Cenit-Then has been extradited from the Dominican Republic and charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Cenit-Then was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan, where he was ordered detained pending trial.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address drug trafficking operations within New York City. Officials say Cenit-Then allegedly operated an industrial-scale pill pressing factory out of a Washington Heights apartment, producing narcotics-laced tablets intended for distribution.
"New Yorkers want us to send a message: New York will not be a safe haven for any level of drug distribution, much less fentanyl and methamphetamine pill factories," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "As alleged, Ruddy Cenit-Then conspired with others to operate a pill mill out of a 20th-floor Manhattan apartment, right next to thousands of innocent New Yorkers just going about their lives. That conduct will never be tolerated by this Office. I am deeply grateful for the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office as we work to keep methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other deadly and debilitating narcotics off our streets."
Michael Alfonso, Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), said: "Ruddy Cenit-Then now stands accused of using a Manhattan apartment as the base for a clandestine pill-pressing factory to produce narcotics-laced tablets on an industrial scale. Pumping these toxic pills into our communities drives overdoses, fuels crime, and erodes the safety and stability of our families and local businesses. HSI New York, together with our Homeland Security Task Force partners, will continue to utilize every lawful tool at our disposal to dismantle these operations and protect our neighborhoods from this deadly trade." Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division added: "The DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in holding accountable those individuals responsible for pushing fentanyl and methamphetamine into our neighborhoods... Today he learned that our global footprint remains strong and wide, and that we are committed to holding traffickers accountable both here at home and abroad."
According to court documents described as allegations only at this stage, law enforcement searched an apartment associated with Cenit-Then on July 24 last year under judicial warrant authority. Inside they found evidence including an industrial-scale pill press hidden behind closet panels along with approximately 37 pounds of white crystal substance testing positive for methamphetamine.
Cenit-Then faces one count of conspiracy which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison if convicted; sentencing would ultimately be determined by a judge based on statutory guidelines prescribed by Congress.
Officials credited multiple agencies including HSI New York’s Homeland Security Task Force partners; DEA Group D-25; local police departments; Kings County District Attorney’s Office; DEA Chemist Team; U.S Marshals Service; Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; as well as Dominican authorities who assisted with arresting Cenit-Then overseas.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger, Katherine Cheng, and Joseph H. Rosenberg are prosecuting the case through the Narcotics Unit office.
Authorities remind that all charges are accusations only until proven otherwise in court.
