Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rikers Guard Busted For Allegedly Dealing Heroin With Bloods Gangleader
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jul 9, 2015
Modified Jul 9, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jul 9, 2015
Modified Jul 9, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[UPDATE BELOW] Riding on the heels of yesterday's good Rikers-related news—that the city will no longer jail a percentage of non-violent defendants who can't afford their bail—comes this little ditty: a Rikers guard was arrested yesterday for her alleged involvement in a Queens heroin ring run in part by a Bloods gang leader.
Covel Duncan, a 30-year-old correction officer stationed on Rikers, was allegedly part of an 11-person "Paper Chasing Goons" ring that sold heroin in Queens—according to a release from the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's Office, the gang sold hundreds of glassines of heroin a day, totaling over 1 kilo daily. The crew was allegedly run by a leader named Kamel Lambus, and was a subset of the Bloods gang.
Prosecutors allege that Duncan, who had begun working as a corrections officer in April 2012 and earned an annual salary of $46,248, sold the heroin at Rikers, though she has not recently had contact with any inmates after being placed on modified duty. She was arrested yesterday, and law enforcement officials seized about 500 glassines of heroine along with $7K in cash from her residence. She is out on $100K bail.
There's been some focus on the DOC's vetting process when it comes to hiring Rikers guards, after a report from earlier this year revealed that the Correction Department hired a large swath of guards with arrest records, "psychological" problems, and gang affiliations. Officials have since promised to "tighten up" their hiring process, so it may be a little more difficult to get a jail job if you have a side gig dealing heroin.
The DOC has not yet responded to request for comment.
Update 12:23 p.m.: A DOC spokesperson provided the following statement:
The vast majority of Correction Officers perform their duties with the highest level of integrity, and Commissioner Ponte has zero tolerance for those who don't. A key plank of DOC's 14-point anti violence initiative is improving staff recruitment, selection and training.
Officer Duncan has since been suspended.
Tagged
covel duncan
dea
doc
rikers
Rikers Island
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council set to ban Central Park's carriage horse industry
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he supports the ban, and a majority of City Council members have signed on to support legislation that would end the industry
By
Liam Quigley
and
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 2:37 p.m. ET
22 NYC food pantries to start offering pet food
Pantries cite growing demand for pet food as owners struggle to feed themselves and their pets.
By
Karen Yi
News
22 NYC food pantries to start offering pet food
Pantries cite growing demand for pet food as owners struggle to feed themselves and their pets.
By
Karen Yi
Woman whose body was found in Brooklyn garbage can was strangled, medical examiner says
By
Charles Lane
New York Public Radio CEO steps down after 8 months on job
By
Liam Quigley
Early Addition: Can't stop the sticker bombers
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .