TRENTON
- A Bronx, N.Y., man was indicted today
on first-degree charges of possession and
distribution of heroin as a result of an
investigation by the New Jersey State Police
that led to the seizure of heroin with a
street value of $250,000, Attorney General
Anne Milgram announced.
Jose
Breton, 30, was charged in a five-count
state grand jury indictment with distribution
of heroin (1st degree), two counts of possession
of heroin with intent to distribute (1st
degree), conspiracy (2nd degree), and distribution
of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school
(3rd degree).
The
case was investigated by the New Jersey
State Police Organized Crime Control Bureau
- Drug Trafficking North Unit. It was presented
to the state grand jury by Deputy Attorney
General Debra A. Conrad of the Division
of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized
Crime Bureau.
The
State Police arrested Breton on Jan. 30,
2007, when they stopped the car he was driving
about 11:40 a.m. on the New Jersey Turnpike
in Kearny. As a result of the investigation,
the State Police believed Breton would be
delivering a large quantity of heroin to
a buyer in the Newark area. After obtaining
Breton’s consent to search the car,
detectives allegedly found more than 500
bricks of heroin in a concealed compartment
that could be opened electronically. A single
brick consists of about 50 small $10 bags
of heroin for street sale, making the total
street value of the seized heroin approximately
$250,000.
In
addition, the indictment alleges that on
Jan. 26, 2007, Breton distributed heroin
with a street value of approximately $100,000
in East Orange to an individual not named
in the indictment.
The
first-degree charges carry a maximum sentence
of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000.
Second-degree charges carry a maximum sentence
of 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine,
while third-degree charges carry a maximum
sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000
fine.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Breton currently is free on $100,000
bail.
The
indictment was handed up to Superior Court
Judge Linda R. Feinberg in Mercer County,
who assigned it to Hudson County.
#
# #
|