Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine Rocks Bronx VA Hospital

Two employees of the Bronx VA Hospital have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, in a shocking case that has left the community reeling.

According to investigators, Robert Tucker, the Supervisor of the Logistics Warehouse and Mail Center, and Erik Casiano, a pipefitter in the Plumbing Department, used the hospital’s mailroom to receive and distribute the illicit substance since at least November 2013.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Police, uncovered evidence of Tucker and Casiano’s alleged scheme, including the seizure of a suspicious package containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine in December 2013.

Undercover law enforcement personnel observed Tucker retrieving packages from the mailroom on four separate occasions in July and August 2014, which were sent from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to the attention of ‘Logistic[s] Warehouse.’

The defendants will be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, ‘As alleged, the defendants used the cover of a facility dedicated to caring for our nation’s heroes to further a scheme to distribute large amounts of cocaine.’

Tucker and Casiano are charged with conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, a crime punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

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