Christopher Corley, of Valley Stream, sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a drug ring

A Valley Stream man who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in April as part of a wide-ranging investigation was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison in Nassau County Court.

Prosecutors and federal drug agents say they tracked Christopher Corley, 47, for nine months using wiretaps and surveillance as he and 12 co-defendants sold cocaine, crack and fentanyl along the south shore of Nassau County.

The case attracted attention because a Malverne High School football coach was implicated in the investigation, although he was later cleared.

Investigators, based on a tip they received in 2022, followed Corley and listened to his phone calls as he discussed the processing, packaging and delivery of the drugs with members of his team.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched homes in Valley Stream, Baldwin, West Hempstead and Long Beach.

At Corley's North Montgomery Street address, they found 3 kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams – almost half a kilo – of fentanyl in a trap disguised as an older model microwave oven at Corley's, they said. -they declared.

Authorities said they also discovered a kilogram press used to make bricks of cocaine still covered in white powder.

Corley pleaded guilty April 16 to second-degree criminal possession of drugs, second-degree drug trafficking and second-degree conspiracy. His attorney Joseph Lo Piccolo could not be reached for comment.

“Christopher Corley was the leader of a sophisticated drug tracing operation that sold dangerous and illegal drugs like cocaine, crack and fentanyl along our South Shore. The defendant possessed nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl during a search warrant executed last year,” Nassau County Prosecutor Anne Donnelly said.

Three others — Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead; and Christopher Lasane, 27, and Thomas Keyes, 36, both of Long Beach – charged with drug conspiracy, pleaded guilty in March and April and are scheduled to be sentenced in July.

The raids shocked the Malverne High School community when head coach Kito Lockwood was arrested at one of the residences and charged with several weapons-related charges.

Lockwood was home watching the NBA Finals and decided to spend the night after drinking too much, his attorney Fred Brewington said. Coach woke up to DEA agents coming through the door.

Prosecutors charged him with illegal gun possession, but the case was ultimately dropped when further investigation revealed another defendant was in control of the weapons.

“I'm very relieved that it's over,” he told Newsday in January after being cleared. “Now I can move on and do the things I normally would without this burden on my shoulders. »