Carolyn Tolin, 46, of Centereach, Long Island, was arrested and charged as a major drug trafficker after authorities uncovered her dark web storefront, known as “MamaKnowsBrown”, which allegedly distributed heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine across 40 U.S. states.
Tolin is accused of running the operation from the garage of her suburban home, using encrypted platforms and accepting cryptocurrency payments for the sale of lethal drug packages. Prosecutors say she allowed buyers to customize orders through a “Tip Jar” feature that added extra fentanyl or cocaine to each package. Shipments reportedly included overdose warning cards urging customers to use Narcan and cautioning that the products were intended for “experienced users.”
The storefront is believed to have been supplied by Larell Campbell, 32, of Copiague, and Carlos Torres, 42, of Bay Shore. Campbell allegedly ran a family-based drug trafficking operation involving his mother, siblings, girlfriend, and sister-in-law. The group moved narcotics through Suffolk and Nassau counties and supplied other sellers operating both online and in person.
The investigation, led by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force, was one of the most extensive in the region’s history. Authorities executed over 100 search warrants, tapped phones and computers, and carried out thousands of hours of surveillance. During raids, law enforcement seized 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl-laced heroin, 2 kilograms of cocaine, and an additional 250 grams of pure fentanyl.
Tolin and Campbell have been charged with Operating as Major Traffickers, carrying potential sentences of 25 years to life in prison. Both are currently held on $1 million cash bail. In total, 21 individuals have been indicted, many of whom are allegedly tied to street gangs or organized family networks.
“This takedown is saving lives,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, noting that fentanyl remains one of the deadliest threats in the opioid epidemic. “We will continue to target traffickers who peddle poison for profit.”
The case illustrates how the dark web drug trade continues to evolve, blending anonymity, crypto-fueled storefronts, and traditional distribution networks. It also highlights the increasing coordination between local and state-level law enforcement in combating online narcotics trafficking.
