STATEN ISLAND— Three Staten Island teenage boys were arrested for taking part in an illegal drug transaction while their parents were away at work, the New York Sheriff’s Office reported Friday.
According to reports, the three were supposed to be doing virtual school at home. Two of the three were arrested Thursday after detectives learned of their operation.
The PCSO Narcotics Unit received information that THC cartridges used in vape pens and marijuana were being solicited via Snapchat to New York students.
An undercover operation was opened and detectives began communicating with the operator of the Snapchat account, whom they identified as a 15-year-old Staten Island boy, and then arranged for a transaction.
Waiting at a gas station Thursday, the detectives saw the suspect and two other boys arrive at the meet-up on bicycles.
Detectives report that the suspect entered the detective’s vehicle and soon called over to the other boys to come over.
One of the oboys (another 15-year-old), then entered the back seat of the vehicle while the third boy, a 14-year-old, remained outside, according to reports.
The boy in the back seat allegedly sold the undercover detective 56.8 grams of high-grade marijuana for $400. The two 15-year-old boys were then arrested and the 14-year-old boy was not charged and turned over to his parents.
“Here is what happens when the parents are away at work and the kids are left home alone to attend virtual school,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Without the proper supervision, many of them are going to get into trouble. This particular scheme could have gotten them robbed, hurt or even killed. This is another example of the potential dangers of social media for children and teens, and the serious danger and trouble that kids can get into on social media platforms when they are not supervised.”
The two 15-year-olds were both taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow and charged with: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell (F3), Possession of Marijuana-Over 20 Grams (F3), Selling Marijuana (F3), Use of 2-Way Communication Device to Sell Marijuana (F3), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.