TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram and
Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni
announced that a New York man was sentenced
to state prison today for bringing large quantities
of heroin from New York City to Hudson County
for distribution.
According
to Director Gramiccioni, Jorge Hernandez,
61, of New York, N.Y., was sentenced to five
years in state prison by Superior Court Judge
Kevin G. Callahan in Hudson County. Hernandez
pleaded guilty on March 16 to second-degree
conspiracy.
On
May 1, three other men were sentenced to prison
by Judge Callahan after pleading guilty to
first-degree distribution of heroin in connection
with the drug ring involving Hernandez:
-
Enrique Carbonell, 55,
of Union City, was sentenced to 10 years
in state prison, including 42 months without
possibility of parole;
-
Luis Fernando Mejia, 44,
of North Bergen, was sentenced to 10 years
in state prison, including 30 months without
possibility of parole; and
-
Cesar Arrias, 31, of West
New York, was sentenced to five years in
state prison, including 18 months without
possibility of parole.
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, 37, of Clifton, was also indicted.
She pleaded guilty to a third-degree conspiracy
charge and was sentenced to two years of probation.
Deputy
Attorney General Annmarie Taggart prosecuted
the case and handled today’s sentencing
for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau.
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.
On
Feb. 28, 2008, Hernandez, Mejia and Arrias
were arrested by members of the investigating
agencies and search warrants were executed
at Hernandez’s residence and Mejia’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.
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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