Fentanyl Dealer Sold In Big Name Union Square Stores: Prosecutor

UNION SQUARE, NY — A drug dealer set up a heroin, fentanyl and cocaine-selling operation in big name Union Square stores including Chipotle, Food Emporium and McDonalds, the city’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor said Tuesday.

Anthony Morales, 49, was indicted on charges that he sold more than $16,000 in drugs to an undercover cop.

The indictment followed an undercover investigation in which an undercover NYPD officer requested heroin and cocaine in seven sales dating back to March 27, prosecutors said.

Lab analysis later found the heroin was either laced with fentanyl or just straight fentanyl, prosecutors said.

Morales would ask the undercover cop to meet him in Union Square sometime between 2 and 5 p.m., after which he would lead the undercover to busy Union Square businesses, including Chipotle, McDonald’s, Au Bon Pain, and the grocery store Food Emporium, prosecutors said.

Cops arrested Morales in a seventh drug sale May 9 at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Harlem, per the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s office.

More than $4,400 in cash was found on Morales during his arrest, prosecutors said.

Per the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s office, overdose deaths are surging in New York City. More than half of fatalities are linked to fentanyl — a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, city Health Department data says.

“Fentanyl is responsible for hundreds of overdose deaths across our city,” Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said in a statement. “It is being exchanged for cash in popular fast food shops and grocery stores in our city. The single most important thing we can do to reduce the number of overdose deaths, is cut off the supply of poison that is killing people.”

Morales was charged with various counts of selling and possessing drugs and was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

“Today’s charges show that criminals often believe they can operate in plain sight, with apparent impunity. The NYPD and our law enforcement partners exist to shatter that notion and hold them responsible for distributing dangerous drugs into our communities,” NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said in a statement.