Long Island woman pleads guilty to operating nationwide online drug distribution network called MamaKnowsBrown.
A 46-year-old woman from Centereach, Long Island, has entered a guilty plea regarding her involvement in the operation of a significant online narcotics distribution network, according to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Carolyn Tolin acknowledged selling various illicit drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine, through her dark-web site, which operated under the name “MamaKnowsBrown.” Her customer base extended across Long Island and reached various locations nationwide.
The modus operandi employed by Tolin involved customers placing orders via her online platform, where transactions were conducted using cryptocurrency. This digital currency was subsequently converted into cash. For local deliveries, Tolin utilized ride-sharing services such as Uber. In contrast, orders destined for locations outside Suffolk County were shipped through established postal services, including USPS and UPS.
Tolin’s illicit activities came to a halt on March 14, when law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at her residence. The authorities seized substantial quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine from Tolin’s garage. Additionally, a cache of items pertinent to her distribution operation was recovered. This haul included computers, cellphones, shipping packages, packaging supplies, a digital scale, a heat sealer, and overdose warning cards that she had included within her shipments. These cards provided crucial information about the risks associated with drug use and recommended that users have naloxone, marketed as Narcan, on hand to counter possible opioid overdoses.
As part of her guilty plea entered on Thursday, Tolin admitted to one count each of criminal possession of a controlled substance and attempted operation as a major trafficker. The Suffolk County District Attorney, Raymond A. Tierney, highlighted the staggering scale of her operation, noting that Tolin had trafficked narcotics valued at over ,000 between September 2024 and March 2025.
Following her arrest in March, Tolin has been in custody and is currently being held without bail. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 8, where she faces a potential sentence of 15 years in prison, accompanied by an additional five years of post-release supervision. This case serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by online drug trafficking and the efforts of law enforcement to combat this pressing public health crisis.
