TRENTON
– Attorney General Stuart Rabner today
announced the execution of search and arrest
warrants related to a narcotics trafficking
network that operated in southern New Jersey
dealing in cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
Fourteen suspects were arrested by state
and federal authorities in New Jersey and
Arizona, and law enforcement officers seized
ten pounds of crack cocaine and more than
seven kilograms, or approximately 15 pounds,
of powder cocaine.
The
powder cocaine was valued at $28,000 per
kilo, and the ten pounds of crack was valued
at $15,000 per pound.
The
arrests were made in South Tucson, Arizona,
and in three counties in South Jersey by
State Police detectives and special agents
of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
following a cooperative investigation by
the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey
Division of Criminal Justice and the DEA.
Authorities also seized approximately $244,000
in cash and confiscated two handguns and
a shotgun.
"Today’s
arrests are the result of outstanding cooperation
between state and federal law enforcement
officials, and demonstrates our commitment
to fighting drug trafficking in our state,’‘
Attorney General Rabner said.
All
those arrested were charged with second
degree conspiracy in connection with the
distribution of narcotics. Further charges
may follow based on the material seized
today. The charges are merely accusations
and the defendants are presumed innocent
until proven guilty.
Search
warrants were executed at ten homes and
storage facilities in Gloucester, Camden
and Burlington counties. Police seized high-end
electronics, computers and mink coats at
one home in Voorhees. They also found packaging
material, cutting agents and a cocaine press
in an apartment in Evesham. Also seized
were eight automobiles and three all terrain
vehicles.
Arrested in Arizona by DEA special agents
were Nasser Perez of Lindenwold, Jerald
Green of Atco and Gabe Blackstone (hometown
not available) as well as seven Mexican
nationals who were caught in a drugs-for-money
exchange. Agents seized four kilograms of
cocaine and approximately $90,000. Authorities
said the New Jersey men traveled to Arizona
to meet a cocaine supplier.
Also
arrested were:
- Gary
R. Maddox,
30, Washington Township
- Lori
M. Gephardt,
31, Washington Township
- Jason
E. McKinnon, 30, Atco
- Gerald
L. Foster Jr., 20, Atco
- Michael
V. Scott, 36, Voorhees
- Michael
Passio, 36, Vineland
- John
Morgan, 46, Lindenwold
- Cynthia
Morgan, 47, Lindenwold
- Pedro
Vasquez, 34, Camden
- Carlos
Vallejo, 33, Pennsauken
- Ronald
Clements Jr., 29, Magnolia
Vasquez,
Vallejo and Clements were arrested on DEA
warrants and were held without bail.
Bail
was set at $500,000 for Maddox and $300,000
each for Gephardt, McKinnon, Foster and
Scott. The others were released on their
own recognizance.
The 10-month investigation was conducted
by the drug trafficking unit of the New
Jersey State Police’s Organized Crime
Control South Bureau and the DEA, and supervised
by Deputy Attorney General Russ Curley of
the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice
Gangs and Organized Crime Bureau. Deputy
Attorney General Andrew Butchko, a senior
counsel with the bureau, assisted in the
final stage of the case.
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