CENTEREACH, NY – On Thursday, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Carolyn Tolin, 46, of Centereach, has pleaded guilty to two major felony charges for operating a sophisticated narcotics distribution network through the dark web. Prosecutors say Tolin shipped fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to customers across the United States from her garage, using the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and even Uber for delivery, with payments received in cryptocurrency.
Tolin admitted in court that she ran the operation under the online vendor name “MamaKnowsBrown.” According to prosecutors, between September 2024 and March 2025, she possessed and sold more than $75,000 worth of narcotics, including cocaine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and heroin.
The scale of the operation that this defendant ran out of her Centereach garage is astounding,” District Attorney Tierney said. “I thank our investigators and prosecutors for exposing this sophisticated enterprise and bringing her to justice. Let it be clear: anyone distributing these deadly poisons will face full investigation and prosecution.”
Court documents show that Tolin maintained a fully functioning online storefront, where she offered several shipping options and allowed customers to leave feedback on her products. Once an order was placed, Tolin packaged and shipped narcotics nationwide via the postal carriers or, for local buyers, arranged delivery through Uber drivers. Payments were made in cryptocurrency, which she later converted to cash.
Investigators say Tolin included overdose warning cards with each shipment. The cards described the potency of her drugs, warned customers about the risk of death, encouraged them to keep Narcan nearby, and advised against using the narcotics alone. She even cautioned that her products were intended only for “experienced, long-term users.”
On March 14, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tolin’s home. Inside the garage, officers recovered sizable quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. They also seized computers, cell phones, a digital scale, packaging supplies, heat sealers, envelopes ready for mailing, and stacks of her overdose warning cards – materials consistent with an ongoing distribution enterprise.
On November 20, 2025, Tolin pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (Class A-1 felony) and Attempted Operating as a Major Trafficker (Class B felony).
Tolin faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. She has been held in custody since her arrest and was remanded without bail following her plea. She is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on January 8, 2025.
Key Facts & Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Carolyn Tolin, 46, of Centereach |
| Dark Web Alias | “MamaKnowsBrown” |
| Operation Timeframe | September 2024 – March 2025 |
| Charges | Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree (A-1 felony); Attempted Operating as a Major Trafficker (B felony) |
| Plea Date | November 20, 2025 |
| Court | Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz |
| Narcotics Involved | Fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine |
| Estimated Value of Drugs Sold | Over $75,000 |
| Method of Distribution | Dark web vendor site; shipments via USPS, UPS; local deliveries through Uber |
| Payment Method | Cryptocurrency, later converted to cash |
| Overdose Warning Cards | Included with each shipment; advised on potency, Narcan use, and overdose risks |
| Search Warrant Date | March 14, 2025 |
| Evidence Recovered | Large quantities of drugs; packaging materials; heat sealer; digital scale; computer equipment; prepared mail parcels |
| Potential Sentence | Up to 15 years in prison + 5 years post-release supervision |
| Next Court Date | January 8, 2025 |
| Defense Attorney | Ian Fitzgerald, Esq. |
UPDATE: Carolyn Tolin Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
UPDATE (January 22, 2026):
Carolyn Tolin, the Centereach woman who previously admitted to running a large-scale narcotics operation from her home, has now been sentenced to 15 years in state prison, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said Tolin operated a sophisticated drug distribution business through the dark web under the vendor name “MamaKnowsBrown,” selling fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to customers locally and nationwide. Court records show she accepted cryptocurrency as payment, converted it to cash, and used the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and even Uber deliveries to move narcotics.
During a March 2025 search of her Centereach residence, investigators recovered large quantities of drugs along with packaging materials, digital scales, shipping supplies, computer equipment, and overdose warning cards. Tolin pleaded guilty in November 2025 to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Attempted Operating as a Major Trafficker, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said the sentence reflects the scale and danger of the operation, noting that Tolin “exploited technology to run a deadly narcotics enterprise” and believed she could evade law enforcement.
Updated Case Snapshot – Carolyn Tolin Sentencing
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Carolyn Tolin, 46, of Centereach |
| Online Alias | “MamaKnowsBrown” (dark web vendor account) |
| Type of Operation | Dark web–based narcotics trafficking run from a residential garage |
| Drugs Involved | Fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine |
| Timeframe of Crimes | September 2024 – March 2025 |
| Estimated Drug Value | More than $75,000 |
| Distribution Methods | U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and local deliveries via Uber |
| Payment Method | Cryptocurrency converted to cash |
| Evidence Recovered | Large quantities of narcotics, packaging materials, heat sealer, digital scale, shipping supplies, computers, cell phones, overdose warning cards |
| Charges (Pled Guilty) | Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree (Class A-I felony); Attempted Operating as a Major Trafficker (Class B felony) |
| Guilty Plea Date | November 20, 2025 |
| Sentence | 15 years in state prison |
| Post-Release Supervision | 5 years |
| Sentencing Date | January 22, 2026 |
| Prosecuting Office | Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office |
| Judge | Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz |
