Gal pal of NYC gangbanger busted for smuggling oxycodone into Rikers: sources
A woman was arrested over the weekend after allegedly trying to smuggle nearly $29,000 worth of oxycodone pills into Rikers Island to give to her inmate boyfriend, who is said to be a member of Brooklyn’s notorious Rich Bosses crew.
Irena Wilson, 28, was apprehended in the visitors’ center of the Robert N. Davoren facility after the city Department of Correction’s Officers Contraband Team received a tip about the attempted drug smuggling operation, according to law enforcement sources.
Wilson had allegedly concealed 290 pills of oxycodone, a highly addictive painkiller, in a small plastic oval container disguised with tobacco leaf, sources said. Wilson’s boyfriend, Andre Brown, 20, who has been indicted on charges of attempted murder in connection with a 2021 shooting, is being held without bail.
The arrest was one of the latest in a series of crackdowns by authorities on the smuggling of drugs and other contraband into New York City’s notoriously troubled jail complex. The DOC’s efforts have gained added urgency following a report earlier this year by the Department of Investigation that found violence, abuses, and unacceptable levels of contraband inside the facilities, which experts have warned are a breeding ground for COVID-19.
In a statement, a Department of Correction spokesperson praised officers for their “investigative efforts to once again identify and prevent narcotics from entering our jails,” adding that “smart, tactical investigations and arresting those who attempt to smuggle in narcotics is one of the many ways we are continuing to improve the safety of Rikers Island.”
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is oxycodone?
Oxycodone is a prescription pain medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid analgesics. It can be highly addictive and is often abused for its euphoric effects.
Who is Andre Brown?
Andre Brown is a reputed Brooklyn gang member who has been indicted on charges of attempted murder in connection with a 2021 shooting.
What is the Rich Bosses crew?
The Rich Bosses is a notorious gang based in Brooklyn, New York.
Why is Rikers Island known for being troubled?
Rikers Island has been the subject of numerous reports and investigations into violence, abuse, and the smuggling of drugs and other contraband into the facility. Experts have also expressed concern about the spread of COVID-19 among the inmate population.
What is the Department of Correction’s Officers Contraband Team?
The Department of Correction’s Officers Contraband Team is a unit of law enforcement officers responsible for intercepting and preventing the smuggling of contraband into New York City jails.
Sources report that the female friend of a gang member from New York City was apprehended for illegal transportation of oxycodone to Rikers.
A woman identified as the girlfriend of a known gang member from Brooklyn was arrested over the weekend for allegedly attempting to smuggle oxycodone worth approximately $29,000 into Rikers Island. Law enforcement sources revealed that Irena Wilson, 28, was caught attempting to sneak 290 pills of the addictive painkiller into the jail in a small plastic oval container disguised with tobacco leaf. She was allegedly doing it for her boyfriend Andre Brown, 20, who is being held on remand on an attempted murder charge linked to a shooting earlier this year. Brown is said to be a member of the violent Rich Bosses gang and is accused of shooting at a funeral for a deceased rival gang member in broad daylight. No one was hit during the incident. According to sources and officials, Wilson was flagged by the Department of Correction’s Officers Contraband Team at the Robert N. Davoren facility after authorities received a tip-off that a potentially dangerous stash was being smuggled into the jail. Brown conceded that he was due to receive the pills after being pulled aside for a search by jail guards. Sources suggest that the pills, which were later found to be oxy, can fetch up to $100 each inside Rikers. Wilson was charged with one count of introducing contraband but was released on her own recognizance by a Bronx judge on Sunday. She is due back in court on August 1. A spokesperson for the DOC praised the efforts of the officers involved in the case for identifying and preventing the entry of narcotics into the jail.