TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
that seven men were indicted as alleged members
of a drug ring that distributed large amounts
of cocaine in Long Branch.
According
to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni,
a state grand jury indictment was returned
yesterday and filed in court today charging
these men as follows:
-
Elvin Sierra-Santiago,
31, formerly of Keansburg. First-degree
distribution of cocaine, second-degree conspiracy,
second-degree distribution of cocaine.
-
Miguel Corea-Diaz, 27,
of Long Branch. First-degree distribution
of cocaine, second-degree conspiracy, three
counts of second-degree distribution of
cocaine.
-
Manuel Savedra, 37, of
Long Branch. First-degree distribution of
cocaine, second-degree conspiracy, three
counts of second-degree distribution of
cocaine.
-
Gilberto Badillo, 39, of
Long Branch. Second-degree conspiracy.
-
Fredis Ventura, 30, of
Long Branch. Second-degree conspiracy, second-degree
distribution of cocaine.
-
Alejandro Huezca of Southampton,
Pa. Second-degree conspiracy, second-degree
possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
-
Anibal Ortiz, 27, of Neptune
City, a.k.a. Jose Ortiz Jr. Second-degree
conspiracy, two counts of second-degree
distribution of cocaine.
It
is alleged that Corea-Diaz and Savedra ran
a drug ring based in Long Branch that at one
time distributed about 1 ½ to 2 kilograms
of cocaine per month. Sierra-Santiago allegedly
supplied cocaine to Corea-Diaz and Savedra
as part of a cocaine distribution operation
he ran from his auto body shop on North Broadway
Avenue in Long Branch. Sierra-Santiago disappeared
during the investigation and is believed to
have fled to the Dominican Republic. Ortiz,
an employee in the body shop, allegedly continued
to supply cocaine to Corea-Diaz and Savedra.
Corea-Diaz and Savedra allegedly supervised
others in the ring, including Badillo and
Ventura.
“Each
time we dismantle this type of drug ring,
we eliminate a supply line of illegal drugs
that are poisoning our communities,”
said Attorney General Milgram. “We will
continue to target large-scale narcotics operations
to protect our residents and defend their
neighborhoods.”
The
indictment resulted from a joint investigation
by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau; Monmouth County
Prosecutor’s Office; Monmouth County
Sheriff’s Office; New Jersey State Police
Electronic Surveillance Unit, TEAMS Unit and
Canine Unit; Long Branch Police Department;
and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sgt. Keith Stopko of the Division of Criminal
Justice was the lead detective. Deputy Attorney
General Christopher St. John presented the
case to the state grand jury.
“Through
cooperative investigations that involve all
levels of law enforcement, we are working
hard to rout out narcotics rings and other
criminal enterprises in New Jersey,”
said Director Gramiccioni.
Corea-Diaz,
Savedra, Badillo and Ventura were arrested
on Aug. 27, when investigators executed search
warrants at seven locations in Long Branch
and Keansburg, seizing approximately one-quarter
kilogram of cocaine with a street value of
roughly $75,000, about $15,000 cash and five
vehicles. The other defendants were arrested
at different times. The defendants are being
held in the Monmouth County Jail in lieu of
bail.
The
first-degree charges carry a maximum sentence
of 20 years in state prison and a $500,000
fine, while second-degree charges carry a
maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and
a $150,000 fine.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty. A copy of the indictment is linked
to this release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
The
indictment was handed up to Superior Court
Judge Linda R. Feinberg in Mercer County,
who assigned the case to Monmouth County,
where the defendants will be arraigned in
court on the charges at a later date.
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