Nantucket Police Arrest Two Individuals Following Tuesday Morning Drug Bust
David Creed •
The Nantucket Police Department executed a search warrant early Tuesday morning at a Gooseberry Place property and subsequently arrested two individuals for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Julian Contreras Zabala, 41, and Leydy Laura Pena De Reyes, 31, both of Nantucket, were arraigned Tuesday afternoon on charges of possession of a Class B drug with the intent to distribute. Pena De Reyes was released on her personal recognizance by Nantucket District Court Judge James Sullivan on the condition she remain drug-free and comply with random tests. Zabala had his bail set at $1,000 cash. Pena De Reyes was ordered to return to court on December 16th for a pretrial hearing, while Zabala was ordered to return on January 21st.
"A search of the residence was conducted with the assistance of the Yarmouth Police Department K9 Unit,” the NPD said in a press release. “What is believed to be cocaine, packaging material, and a scale were located within the residence and taken into evidence.”
1 Gooseberry Place, Apartment 1A, part of the new apartment complexes recently completed in the Richmond Great Point subdivision off Old South Road, was the residence targeted for the search warrant after an "extensive investigation conducted by the Nantucket Police Department Detective Unit." According to the police report, 2.3 grams of a white, chunky substance was located inside two plastic zip-locked baggies, and another 11.9 grams of a white, chunky substance was located inside a sandwich-size zip-locked baggy.
Police also found a small scale hidden in a bedroom in a mini split air conditioner unit. When the police approached a bedroom closet, they found a black plastic bag, over 500 small zip-locked baggies, and a metal spoon. Numerous bank statements, along with other mail belonging to Pena De Reyes, were located in the bedroom. Bank statements and a passport belonging to Zabala were found in the bedroom as well.
Both individuals have had previous run-ins with the island law enforcement as well. Zabala was arraigned in November on a Sept. 9th charge of credit card fraud under $1,200. At the conclusion of that arraignment, he was ordered to return to court on January 21st.
Pena De Reyes previously faced an April 7th charge of assault and battery on a family/household member but had the charge dismissed in early September after the alleged victim in the case declined to cooperate with prosecutors.
Both individuals were represented by Rob Moriarty during the bail hearing. The Cape & Island's District Attorney's office requested $5,000 cash bail on both individuals while Moriarty requested personal recognizance for Pena De Reyes and $1,000 cash bail for Zabala. Sullivan granted Moriarty’s request but said Pena De Reyes needed to comply with the random drug tests while remaining drug-free.
Sullivan proceeded to ask the individuals – accompanied by a Spanish interpreter – if they had any concerns or disagreements with his bail conditions. Pena De Reyes questioned the random testing and said she “doesn’t do drugs.” Sullivan replied, saying, “If that’s the case, the testing shouldn’t be a problem.”