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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
that a Newark man was indicted today by a
state grand jury for allegedly possessing
approximately a kilogram of cocaine that he
intended to sell.
According
to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni,
Eddy Ortiz, 36, of Newark, was charged in
a four-count indictment with first-degree
possession of cocaine with intent to distribute,
second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine,
and third-degree possession of cocaine. The
first-degree charge carries a maximum sentence
of 20 years in state prison and a $500,000
fine.
The
charges resulted from an investigation by
the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs &
Organized Crime Bureau. Ortiz and a co-defendant,
Cesar Pena, were arrested on March 3, 2009
in Pena’s car, which was parked at a
location in Elizabeth where the two men met
a third person, not named in the indictment,
to whom they allegedly intended to sell a
kilogram of cocaine. Detectives from the Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau searched the
car and found approximately a kilogram of
cocaine in a hidden compartment, along with
smaller amounts of crack cocaine and $300
in cash.
Pena,
27, of New York City, pleaded guilty on July
27 to an accusation charging him with first-degree
possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
and second-degree conspiracy before Superior
Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan in Morris County.
Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend
that Pena be sentenced to 10 years in state
prison, with 28 months of parole ineligibility.
Deputy
Attorney General Erin Callahan presented the
case to the state grand jury. The investigation
was conducted by Detective Miguel Rodriguez
and Detective Louis Renshaw of the Division
of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized
Crime Bureau.
The
second-degree charge against Ortiz carries
a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and
a $150,000 fine, while the third-degree charge
carries a sentence of up to five years and
a $15,000 fine. The indictment is merely an
accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent
until proven guilty.
The
indictment was handed up to Superior Court
Judge Linda R. Feinberg in Mercer County,
who assigned the case to Union County. The
indictment is posted with this release at
www.njpublicsafety.com.
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