Alleged cocaine cabbie pleads not guilty

The man accused of runningcocaine-peddling cab and deli businesses pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court Monday.

The Nov. 7 indictmentis related to the Oct. 19 raid at the Farmingdale residence of Edgar Rodriguez, who is believed to be the mastermind of the livery cab drug operation. The bust turned up approximately $300,000 in cash, two pounds of cocaine worth $50,000 wholesale, and a gun, officials said.

Rodriguez, 49, allegedly oversaw a fleet of livery cabs registered to the Department of Transportation that sold and transported narcotics only. According to the investigation, customers would enter the livery cab at a prearranged location and be driven a short distance during the transaction.

Nana Deli at 182 Wilson Ave. in Bushwick, run by Rodriguez, is believed to have doubled as a stash house and drug counter, where customers could request “candy,” officials said.

Rodriguez faces felony charges of conspiracy in the 2nd degree, nine counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $450,000.

Four others were arrested in connection with the operation and running of $70,000 in wholesale cocaine during a 10-month undercover investigation dubbed “Operation CityLine.” The defendants allegedly sold cops about $20,000 in coke in 36 transactions.

Jose Montalvo-Marti, 41, is charged with conspiracy and 17 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Anthony Quinones, 33, is charged with conspiracy and 20 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Angela Martinez, 50, is charged with conspiracy and four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. And Reymin Miguel Duran Reyes, 26, was charged with conspiracy and three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Phone records reportedly revealed that the Rodriguez team received as many as 100 calls per day and that they brought in an average of $28,000 per week.