Accused students still uncertain of their fate

Manhattan College drug bust

By Tommy Hallissey

As the sun rose over the cupolas of Manhattan College on the morning of May 8, officers of the Bronx Narcotics Division were already poised on campus. At 6:30 a.m. they struck, rousting sleeping students in the Jasper Hall dormitory and arresting six for possession and sale of cocaine, LSD and marijuana. They confiscated a pound of marijuana and an ounce of cocaine.

Now, nearly five months later, the cases of the six students are winding their way through the criminal justice system. Just one has been indicted so far. The cases of two others have been dismissed and three others are still pending.

On June 1, Joseph Regan, 22, of Point Pleasant, N.J., was indicted by the Bronx grand jury on 17 counts, including third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of marijuana and 14 counts of fourth-degree criminal sale of marijuana.

The cases against Patrick Smith, 20, of Howell, N.J., and John Ameralis, 20, of New Milford, N.J., were dismissed, according to the Bronx district attorney's office. The cases against Jose Sousa, 19, of Manhattan, Adam Troeder, 21, of Vernon, N.J., and Bryan Coco, 19, of Melville, N.Y., are pending.

Mr. Regan faces the heaviest charges thus far: three felony counts and 14 misdemeanor counts. The stiffest charge, thirddegree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a B felony, carries a sentence from eight-and-a-third to 25 years in prison.

His trial starts Nov. 7 at Bronx Criminal Court.

Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson charges that on April 13 Mr. Regan sold LSD of one milligram or more to an undercover officer, according to the indictment. In court papers, the DA alleges there was a pattern to Mr. Regan's actions.

He was also indicted on two counts of third-degree criminal sale of marijuana, an E felony, which carries a penalty of one-and-a-third to four years in prison. Mr. Regan allegedly sold more than 25 grams for $250 on April 13 and again on April 20, according to court documents.

Mr. Regan was also indicted on 14 misdemeanor counts of fourthdegree criminal sale of marijuana. From April 5 through May 7, Mr. Regan allegedly sold marijuana to undercover agents from his dorm room in Jasper Hall. According to Mr. Regan's criminal complaint, the amounts in these 14 sales were small, such as $20 per bag.

Mr. Coco and Mr. Sousa also face felony drug sale charges from the same bust. Both men are due in court on Oct. 19.

Mr. Troeder faces misdemeanor possession and sale of marijuana charges. He was due in court on Tuesday.

According to Scott Silversten, spokesman for Manhattan College, five of the six alleged drug dealers are no longer Manhattan College students. He wouldn't say which of them has returned to campus. Mr. Regan's Facebook page says he is a Manhattan College alumnus. He now attends the New Jersey Institute of Technology, according to the Web site. Mr. Ameralis' page says he is a student at Montclair State University. The Press was unable to determine what schools, if any, the other students attend.