A budding reality show star — who recently scored a $900,000 lawsuit settlement stemming from a Manhattan bar fight — was swept up in a sprawling Staten Island drug sting, officials said Monday.
Corey Epstein, 23, of the Style Network series “Jerseylicious,” allegedly sold an undercover officer three Oxycodone pills in front of his New Springville home, according to the Richmond County DA’s office.
Epstein landed a windfall against since shuttered TriBeCa nightspot Eamonn’s of Brooklyn last March after he claimed the former Murray Street bar improperly served alcohol to a minor who assaulted him as he played peacemaker between a pair of brawling women, court records show.
A judge awarded the professional dancer $450,000 for damages stemming from the 2009 fight and $450,000 for future suffering. Epstein claimed that he was stabbed in the leg as well as repeatedly punched and kicked.
But Epstein’s legal fortunes reversed course last week after he was picked up in front of his home on the prescription pill rap.
“Operation Silent Hill,” began as a sting operation focused on the Todt Hill Houses but eventually fanned out into a 16-month enterprise that spread across much of the borough, according to the Staten Island DA.
“This long-term investigation uncovered a wide network of criminals who were peddling their narcotics across Staten Island,” said District Attorney Daniel Donovan. “With no regard for the law-abiding citizens and children they put in danger, these defendants sought to make money dealing illegal drugs.”
In addition to the reality show D-lister, the sweep also turned up a youth basketball coach who told an undercover office to meet him for a sale while he was calling fouls at a Catholic Youth Organization game.
Horace Johnson allegedly sold six bags of crack to the officer in his car outside the game for $100, officials said.
All told, search warrants produced a total of $7,000 in cash, a .22 caliber gun as well as crack, cocaine, and hallucinogenic drugs, according to the Staten Island DA.