|
West
Trenton, N.J. – Law enforcement cooperation
from the federal to the local level resulted
in the culmination of two large-scale investigations
resulting in the arrest of 13 people for
crimes including the illegal sale of guns,
drugs and fraudulent IDs and for auto theft
by car-jacking. Between both operations,
17 guns were seized.
“Gun
violence takes a heartbreaking toll on our
communities, and in three out of four cases,
the weapons used by criminals come from
outside of New Jersey,” said New Jersey
Attorney General Paula T. Dow. “By
engaging all levels of law enforcement to
target gun traffickers, we are working to
shut down the pipeline for illicit guns.”
“These
cases prove that law enforcement agencies
at all levels are leveraging each other’s
assets like never before. Collectively,
we are targeting the people putting weapons
in the hands of criminals,” said Colonel
Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New
Jersey State Police. “We are confident
that these intercepted guns would have resulted
in injuries and loss of life—perhaps
to innocent bystanders—and we are
rightfully proud of these successful investigations,”
Fuentes added.
“With
these cooperative investigations, we set
our sights on defendants who were selling
both guns and narcotics, the twin scourges
that are destroying so many young lives
in New Jersey,” said Director Stephen
J. Taylor of the New Jersey Division of
Criminal Justice.
“Document
fraud and weapons trafficking is an extremely
lucrative crime that can be challenging
to investigate, but HSI agents, working
with state and local law enforcement officials
are determined to bring these criminals
to justice,” said Peter T. Edge, special
agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI) in Newark.
“Fraudulent documents may be used
to gain employment in critical infrastructure
industries, obtain financial benefits and
entitlements that are intended for US citizens,
and is a severe threat to our national security.”
“The
FBI is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the New Jersey State Police and the
other local agencies represented in this
investigation today,” said Special
Agent in Charge George C. Venizelos, of
the Philadelphia Division of the FBI. “These
types of joint investigations are intended
to not only rid our communities of those
criminal predators that destroy the very
fabric of safety and security that all law-abiding
citizens expect and deserve, but also to
send the clear message that Federal, State,
County and local law enforcement agencies
are working together to aggressively address
the violent crime and drug problems in South
Jersey communities.”
“The
MVC has zero tolerance for document fraud,
abuse and identity theft and we remain vigilant
in our effort to further protect the licensing
process,” said MVC Chief Administrator
Raymond P. Martinez. “Today we stand
tall with our law enforcement partners with
the knowledge that when we work together,
we will protect the integrity of our licensing
system and the personal information of New
Jerseyans.”
Operation
Southern Draw
This
investigation, which began in August of
2010, uncovered a group of people making
money through several different criminal
enterprises. The investigation showed a
relationship between the sale of fraudulent
identification documents, the sale of stolen
cars, carjackings, and the purchase of firearms
from North Carolina. Those guns would then
be sold for profit back in New Jersey. Six
people were charged and 15 guns purchased
and seized in this ongoing investigation.
Several
carjackings planned in Essex and Union Counties
were actually thwarted by New Jersey troopers
and agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
In one such effort, three men were detained
by State Police T.E.A.M.S (tactical unit)
when it was believed they were on their
way to commit a carjacking in Roselle. Evidence
recovered in the vehicle in which they were
found included an imitation handgun, a ski
mask, and a tool to disable car locks. Samuel
Frye was charged with possession of burglary
tools at that time and with additional charges
later.
The
major arrests and search warrants were executed
on April 5th when troopers, agents and officers
swept through a number of locations in Essex
and Union Counties. Thirteen handguns, one
Uzi assault weapon and one 30/30 rifle were
recovered along with two stolen cars and
three other vehicles seized. Several sets
of fraudulent IDs, including birth certificates
and social security cards were purchased
under the direction of detectives prior
to making the final arrests.
Detectives
with the New Jersey State Police Weapons
Trafficking Unit worked closely with federal
and local agencies including U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland
Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),
the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice,
and the Union County Prosecutor’s
Office, Newark P.D, Union Township P.D.,
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation,
N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission, State Department
of Taxation, and the Salvation Army.
Operation
White Cloud
This
cooperative investigation focused on the
weapons and cocaine distribution network
of Nicholas Stens of Collingswood. In January
of 2011, Stens sold a .40 caliber semi-automatic
handgun and ammunition for $800 to an undercover
officer in the task force. Later, the same
officer purchased distribution quantities
of cocaine and a 12-guage shotgun from Stens.
In
coordinated sweeps on April 7th, law enforcement
partners executed search and arrest warrants
in Camden and other South Jersey areas.
Seven people have been arrested on various
weapons and drug charges to this date. This
South Jersey case uncovered information
that subjects under investigation intended
to sell additional weapons including the
infamous AK-47, as well as significant quantities
of drugs. One handgun, one shotgun, 22 ounces
of cocaine valued at $22,000, $15,000 in
currency, and two vehicles were seized in
the course of this investigation.
Operation
White Cloud was conducted by the FBI/South
Jersey Violent Offenders Gang Task Force-Cherry
Hill Office, New Jersey State Police, New
Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Bureau
of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Burlington
County Prosecutors Office, Camden County
Prosecutor’s Office, Gloucester County
Prosecutors Office, Voorhees Township P.D.,
Maple Shade P.D., Washington Township P.D.,
Collingswood P.D., and the Gloucester Township
P.D.
Charged
in Operation Southern Draw:
- George
Bresnihan, dob:3/5/64, Roselle,
NJ. Arrested April 5, 2011.
Conspiracy to commit carjacking (2nd degree)
Possession of firearms (2nd degree)
Persons not permitted to have firearms
(3rd degree)
Possession of burglary tools (2nd degree)
Receiving stolen property (2nd degree)
- Hady
Venessa Purboo, dob:10/5/68,
Irvington, NJ. Arrested April 5, 2011.
Tampering with public records (3nd degree)
Receiving stolen property (3nd degree)
- Samuel
Frye “Bundy,” dob:2/24/71,
Newark, NJ. Arrested April 5, 2011.
Conspiracy to commit carjacking (2nd degree)
Possession of burglary tools (2nd degree)
- Kaseen
Lawrence, dob:12/14/76, Orange,
NJ. Arrested April 5, 2011.
Conspiracy to commit carjacking (2nd degree)
Possession of burglary tools (2nd degree)
- Jeffrey
Vandunk, dob:9/20/70, Ridgeland,
SC. Arrested April 6, 2011.
Conspiracy to commit unlawful transfer
of firearms (2nd)
- Nixon
Provillion, dob:4/21/71, Irvington,
NJ. Arrested April 5, 2011.
Forgery (3rd degree)
Charged
in Operation White Cloud:
- Nicholas
Stens, dob: 4/15/86, Collingswood,
NJ. Arrested April 7, 2011.
Poss. of a handgun while committing a
CDS offense
Poss. of a handgun without a permit
Poss. of a shotgun/rifle without a purchaser
ID
Selling a firearm without being licensed
Distribution of CDS, first degree (2 counts)
Conspiracy (2 Counts)
- Robert
Schafer, dob: 9/1/86, Maple Shade,
NJ. Arrested April 7, 2011.
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- Roberto
Ortiz, dob: 6/13/85, Haddon Twp.,
NJ. Arrested April 7, 2011.
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
Conspiracy to unlawfully dispose of a
firearm
- Michael
F. Neher, dob: 6/21/84, West
Collingswood, NJ. Arrested April 7, 2011.
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- Dominick
M. Leonetti, Jr., dob: 11/12/63,
Maple Shade, NJ. Arrested April 7, 2011.
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- Charles
Jackmon, dob: 11/1/80, Collingswood,
NJ. Arrested April 8, 2011.
Possession of CDS/Cocaine with intent
to distribute
Possession of CDS/Cocaine
- Eugene
R. Wilson, dob: 5/29/68, National
Park, NJ. Arrested April 7, 2011.
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
### |
