TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced
that three men were sentenced to state prison
today for their roles in a drug ring that
brought large quantities of heroin from New
York City to Hudson County for distribution.
According
to Director Gramiccioni, the three men were
sentenced as follows by Superior Court Judge
Kevin G. Callahan in Hudson County:
Enrique
Carbonell, 55, of Union City, was
sentenced to 10 years in state prison, including
42 months without possibility of parole. Carbonell
pleaded guilty on March 16 to first-degree
distribution of heroin.
Luis
Fernando Mejia, 44, of North Bergen,
was sentenced to 10 years in state prison,
including 30 months without possibility of
parole. Mejia pleaded guilty on March 17 to
first-degree distribution of heroin.
Cesar
Arrias, 31, of West New York, was
sentenced to five years in state prison, including
18 months without possibility of parole. Arrias
pleaded guilty on March 16 to first-degree
distribution of heroin.
A
fourth defendant, Jorge Hernandez, 61, of
New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty on March 16
to second-degree conspiracy. The state will
recommend that he be sentenced to six years
in state prison when he is sentenced on May
8.
The
men were indicted in June 2008 as a result
of a joint investigation by the New Jersey
Division of Criminal Justice, Hudson County
Prosecutor’s Office and New York Drug
Enforcement Task Force. A fifth defendant,
Areli Osorio, 36, of Clifton, was also indicted.
She pleaded guilty to a third-degree conspiracy
charge and was sentenced by Judge Callahan
to two years of probation on April 23.
The
investigation revealed that Hernandez would
obtain large quantities of heroin in New York
City for distribution to Mejia. Mejia would
transport the drugs to New Jersey, where they
were distributed to other members of the conspiracy,
including Carbonell. The investigation further
determined that Carbonell was distributing
heroin and cocaine out of a storefront on
Kennedy Boulevard in Union City. Arrias was
involved in delivering heroin to Carbonell.
Hernandez,
Mejia and Arrias were arrested on Feb. 28,
2008 by members of the investigating agencies.
On that date, search warrants were executed
at Hernandez’s residence and Meija’s
residence.
At
Hernandez’s resident on Convent Avenue
in New York City, officers allegedly seized
more than a kilogram of heroin, two loaded
semi-automatic guns, and $6,000 in cash. They
allegedly seized more than 150 grams of heroin
at Meijia’s residence on 83rd Street
in North Bergen. Carbonell was arrested on
April 3, 2008.
Deputy
Attorney General Annmarie Taggart prosecuted
the case and handled today’s sentencing
hearing for the Division of Criminal Justice
Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.
The
investigation was led by Lt. Chuck Foley and
Detective Miguel Rodriguez of the Division
of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized
Crime Bureau, along with Detective Ray Santos
of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
and members of the New York Drug Enforcement
Task Force under the supervision of Sgt. Neil
Nappi of the New York City Police Department.
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