An alleged drug ring leader who used a Bronx apartment building as his “castle” for his “brazen” operation is the first to be charged under a new kingpin law that carries a potential life sentence for a felony drug charges, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Jose Delorbe, 39, allegedly controlled nearly a dozen of the 120 apartments at 1571 Undercliff Ave., using them as stash houses for the one to two kilos of cocaine and heroin he sold a week. Delorbe also allegedly provided his customers and suppliers with valet parking in the lot next to the building — conveniently located for out-of-towners near the Major Deegan Expressway and George Washington Bridge.
“Delorbe ran 1571 Undercliff Ave. as his own fiefdom,” New York City’s special narcotics prosecutor Bridget Brennan said.
He was arrested on Wednesday along with about 14 others, including the building’s superintendent, after a seven-month wiretap investigation.
The state’s new kingpin law took effect last fall.
