Larell Campbell, Carlos Torres, Carolyn Tolin among 21 charged after Suffolk drug-trafficking investigation

Suffolk prosecutors announced Friday that 21 people had been charged in a 109-count indictment alleging "large-scale" drug trafficking, including sales made on the dark web.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said that an investigation, which began in December 2023, found that Larell Campbell, 32, of Copiague, and Carlos Torres, 42, of Bay Shore, were the two main players in the operation. Tierney said they worked together to obtain large amounts of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from New York City.

Both Campbell and Torres enlisted the help of family members to transport and package the drugs for sale and collect payment through cash apps, Tierney said.

The investigation also found that Campbell and Torres sold drugs to individuals who then distributed the narcotics to others, according to a release. They included Carolyn Tolin, 46, of Centereach, who allegedly sold heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and powder cocaine on the web under the name MamaKnowsBrown, according to the release.

Tierney said the "sophisticated" dark web operation was "like any other online business, only in this instance, her product was deadly drugs." Customers could browse different drugs and combinations of drugs, and then purchase them with the click of a button.

Records from the United States Postal Service revealed Tolin had made more than 1,000 shipments to 40 different states since September, according to Tierney. For local customers, including those on Long Island, Tolin delivered drugs using the rideshare app Uber via an "unsuspecting driver," he said. 

Each package included an overdose warning that cautioned customers to not take the drugs alone and without Narcan available, as the drugs were meant for "experienced, long term users," Tierney said.

Attorneys for Campbell, Torres and Tolin could not be reached Friday.

Drug seizures

In December, police executed search warrants for several residences and vehicles associated with the Campbell family in Babylon and Amityville, and recovered about 2 kilograms of cocaine, 1½ kilograms of heroin mixed with fentanyl and an additional 250 grams of fentanyl, Tierney said.

In January, prosecutors said police seized 290 grams of fentanyl, 170 grams of heroin, 132 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mix and 12 grams of methamphetamine at a Central Islip residence on Coventry Lane that was associated with Torres. Drugs were found in hidden compartments in flowerpots at the entrance of the home.

On March 14, officers searched Tolin’s Centereach home and garage, where they found hundreds of grams of narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, according to the release.

Police also found multiple computers, cellphones, several packages in the process of being prepared for shipment, a stockpile of overdose warning cards and a digital scale, the release stated.

An analysis of Tolin’s computer allegedly revealed that she received $93,000 in payments in cryptocurrency from her dark web vendor page in the last three months, prosecutors said.

Tolin faces a top count of operating as a major trafficker, for allegedly possessing and selling more than $75,000 worth of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin from September to March, Tierney said.

Campbell is also charged with operating as a major trafficker and Torres is charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Tierney said.

"This case, I think, sends a clear message to the greedy, selfish, evil monsters that continue to peddle this poison in our community," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said at a press conference Friday. "We will find you, we will arrest you and we will prosecute you."

Torres, Campbell and Tolin face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.