East Hampton Cops Arrest Two in Alleged Cocaine Distribution Ring

Update, 2 p.m.: Juan P. Porras, 48, and Jose Jaime Restrepo-Perez, 41, of Springs, who police have accused of running a cocaine distribution ring, are facing bails of $500,000 and $100,000 respectively. They were arrested Wednesday after a traffic stop on Route 114 in East Hampton.

Mr. Porras was represented at his arraignment Wednesday in East Hampton Town Justice Court by Brian Francese of the Legal Aid Society, who entered a denial to the multiple felony charges his client is facing. In setting Mr. Porras's bail, Justice Steven Tekulsky pointed out that he has at least one previous felony conviction.

His co-defendant, Mr. Restrepo-Perez, has one prior conviction at the misdemeanor level. The court will appoint a a lawyer for him, since, under the law, he cannot be represented by his co-defendant's lawyer. Carl Irace stood in to act as his lawyer during the arraignment.

Originally, 10:18 a.m.: East Hampton Town police arrested two Springs men they accuse of running a cocaine distribution ring on Wednesday. The two face a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.

Juan P. Porras, 48, and Jose Jaime Restrepo-Perez, 41, were arrested after a traffic stop on Route 114. According to police, Mr. Porras, the driver of the vehicle, was in possession of six ounces of cocaine at the time. He and Mr. Restrepo-Perez were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree. The charge is triggered by possession of four ounces or more of a controlled drug.

Both Mr. Porras and Mr. Restrepo-Perez were already the targets of an ongoing investigation being conducted jointly by the department and the East End Drug Task Force.

As a result of that investigation, both men have also been charged with selling large quantities of cocaine, specifically, according to the charge, two or more ounces at a time. Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree is a felony that carries a minimum of 15 years in state prison.

Mr. Porras is also accused making sales of cocaine in quantities large enough to trigger additional felony charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, meaning he was selling a half-ounce or more at a time.

The two are scheduled to be arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court this morning.