A Queens man accused of running a large-scale narcotics operation that sold fentanyl, cocaine and xylazine across Nassau County has been indicted as a major trafficker after authorities recovered what prosecutors described as more than half a million fatal doses of fentanyl from his home.
Jemmal Bryan, 42, of Jamaica, Queens, pleaded not guilty Sept. 1 to two counts of operating as a major trafficker, conspiracy charges and dozens of narcotics sale and possession counts, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.
Bryan was remanded and is due back in court Oct. 6. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
The indictment followed a yearlong investigation by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
According to prosecutors, the investigation began after Nassau police found distinctive green ink stamps bearing the name “Bruce Banner” on envelopes of packaged narcotics recovered at the scenes of a fatal overdose in June 2025 and a nonfatal overdose in July 2025.
Detectives allegedly traced the stamps and other distinctive markings to phone numbers belonging to Bryan.
Prosecutors said Bryan and his sister, Keana Bryan, allegedly arranged hundreds of narcotics sales throughout Nassau County, including in Roosevelt, Valley Stream, Glen Cove, Merrick and Massapequa.
Bryan allegedly sold bundles of 10 envelopes and sleeves of 100 envelopes containing fentanyl, fentanyl mixed with xylazine, also known as Tranq, and cocaine.
Authorities also allege Bryan conducted some sales from a black Ford Explorer rented for him by co-defendant Leo Duchnowski and in the driveway of co-defendant Jennifer Loheide’s Merrick home.
In approximately six months, Bryan allegedly made more than $75,000 from narcotics sales, prosecutors said.
A search warrant executed at Bryan’s Jamaica apartment on July 16 recovered approximately 1,040 grams of fentanyl, along with 2,261 packaged envelopes containing fentanyl, prosecutors said. The district attorney’s office said the fentanyl amounted to more than half a million fatal doses.
Authorities also recovered approximately 200 grams of cocaine, 100 grams of crack cocaine, MDMA pills, purple fentanyl, Adderall, four firearms, including two reported stolen, and $12,371 in cash.
Investigators also seized more than 15,000 empty glassine envelopes, cellphones, cutting agents, scales, blenders, grinders, fentanyl test strips, Narcan and other drug packaging equipment, prosecutors said.
Bryan was arrested July 17 by Nassau County police and HSI.
Keana Bryan, 43, of Endicott, was arraigned Sept. 4 on conspiracy, narcotics sale and possession charges. She pleaded not guilty and was remanded. She is due back in court Oct. 6 and faces up to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Ian Sharkey, 38, of Middle Island, was charged with narcotics possession and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege Sharkey purchased between 140 and 180 envelopes of fentanyl from Bryan every two to three days during the investigation. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. His next court date is Sept. 11.
Duchnowski, 35, of Glen Cove, and Loheide, 45, of Merrick, were charged with conspiracy. Both pleaded not guilty. Duchnowski was released to pretrial services with electronic monitoring, a curfew and passport surrender in this case, while Loheide was released to pretrial services.
Joseph Giunta, 76, of Seaford, was charged with third- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
Donnelly said investigators believe Bryan continued selling narcotics despite customers allegedly warning him about the potency of his drugs.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Rivka Shuter of the Narcotics, Firearms and Gangs Bureau.
The charges are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
