(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that ROXANA RAMOS ARGUETA, XENIA MIRANDA RODRIGUEZ, KEVIN CLAROS, IDENCIS CHAVEZ-GAMES, ANNA GRISELDA RIVERA, TERESA RAMOS CLAROS and YESICA CLAROS RAMOS were arrested and arraigned for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree for allegedly dispensing prescription medications out of the Claros Variedades convenience stores when none of the locations were licensed as pharmacies or authorized to dispense prescription medications.
“What this investigation alleges is troubling in many aspects, as these stores have never been licensed, nor allowed to operate as pharmacies,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Dispensing antibiotics without prescription and selling the Schedule IV controlled substances, like tramadol, over-the-counter without medical authorization is not only against the law, but also dangerous.”
According to the investigation, on September 25, 2024, members of the Suffolk County Police Department assigned to the District Attorney’s Office executed search warrants at four Claros Variedades locations in Brentwood and Huntington Station.
During those searches, police allegedly discovered tramadol and other prescription medications from all four store locations. Tramadol is a prescription opioid analgesic that is most commonly abused by narcotic addicts, chronic pain patients, and health professionals.[i]
None of the store locations were licensed as pharmacies, nor were they authorized to dispense prescription medications. Claros Variedades is a family-owned business owned by the Claros family which operates a total of four stores in Suffolk County.
The following are the locations where the search warrants took place:
- Claros Variedades – 16 First Avenue in Brentwood.
- Claros Multiservicios – 556C Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood.
- Claros Variedades 3 – 1911 New York Avenue in Huntington Station.
- Claros Variedades IV – 1221 Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood.
RAMOS ARGUETA, 35, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony.
MIRANDA RODRIGUEZ, 24, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony.
CLAROS, 29, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a D felony.
CHAVEZ-GAMES, 22, of Huntington Station, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony.
GRISELDA RIVERA, 45, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony.
TERESA RAMOS CLAROS, 64, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony.
YESICA CLAROS RAMOS, 39, of Bay Shore, is a charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony.
On September 26, 2024, District Court Judge Bernard Cheng ordered the defendants released without bail because the charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot request, and judges cannot set, bail.
RAMOS ARGUETA is due back in court on October 17, 2024, and she is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
MIRANDA RODRIGUEZ is due back in court on October 17, 2024, and she is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
CLAROS is due back in court on October 17, 2024, and he is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
CHAVEZ-GAMES is due back in court on October 16, 2024, and she is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
GRISELDA RIVERA is due back in court on October 17, 2024, and she is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
TERESA RAMOS CLAROS is due back in court on October 17, 2024, and she is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
YESICA CLAROS RAMOS is due back in court on October 17, 2024, and she is being represented by Gligoric Garupa, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Deirdre Horney of the Financial Crimes Bureau and the investigation was conducted by Detective Kevin Braithwaite together with other members of the District Attorney’s Squad.
