Cops: 7 arrested in heroin sale, possession

Seven men were arrested after detectives witnessed exchanges Tuesday evening in Plainview and Franklin Square initially involving five bags of heroin hidden in a box of cigarettes, police said Wednesday.

More than 30 bags of heroin and about $1,000 were seized during the subsequent investigation, Nassau County police said.

Jonathan Rogge, 24, of 18 Heather Lane, Plainview, was charged with third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Six others -- Brian Cosenza, 20, of 16 John Dr., Old Bethpage; Nicholas Soehngen, 19, of 94 Burton Lane, Commack; Peter Pappas, 26, of 3225 Oceanside Rd., Oceanside; Matthew O'Connor, 25, of 108 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square; Eric Norden, 21, of 107 Wartburg Ave., Copiague; and Sean Murphy, 23, of 2 Violet Lane, Plainview -- were charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Pappas also was charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Police gave this account: Rogge met Cosenza near the intersection of Old Country Road and Grohmans Lane in Plainview at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Rogge handed Cosenza a box of cigarettes in exchange for cash. Rogge then drove off in a Jeep. While one group of detectives followed Rogge, another group stopped a Nissan carrying Cosenza and Soehngen -- finding the cigarette box with five bags of heroin inside. Police said Rogge then drove to Franklin Square, where he exited his Jeep and got into a Chevrolet occupied by Pappas and O'Connor. Detectives said they later found more than 30 bags of heroin and, $1,000 in cash, inside the vehicle. Police said Norden and Murphy were in the Jeep, where another four bags of heroin were found.