Tag:

Money Laundering

‘Crypto Con Man’: Imprisoned Instagrifter Gets 7 Federal Years For $8M Fraud Scheme ‘Crypto Con Man’: Imprisoned Instagrifter Gets 7 Federal Years For $8M Fraud Scheme
‘Crypto Con Man’: Imprisoned Instagrifter Gets 7 Federal Years For $8M Fraud Scheme UPDATE: Imprisoned Instagram influencer “Jay Mazini” apparently thought that rolling on his partners in crime could mitigate the damage of a conviction for scamming investors out of at least $8 million. Three years into a mandatory four-year New Jersey state prison sentence for kidnapping an online critic, the 28-year-old Instagrifter from Bergen County agreed to rat out his friends in exchange for leniency in a federal fraud case in Brooklyn. Trouble is: He didn’t deliver much, authorities said. Mazini, whose real name is Jebara Igbara, ended up sentenced to seven years in federal prison …
Egg Harbor Township Duo Found With Kilos Of Cocaine, AR-15: Prosecutors Egg Harbor Township Duo Found With Kilos Of Cocaine, AR-15: Prosecutors
Felix Mujica And Wilfredo Latimer Arrested Two men from Egg Harbor Township were accused of running a large drug-dealing network, authorities said. An Atlantic County Superior Court Judge detained 46-year-old Felix Mujica and 47-year-old Wilfredo Latimer on Tuesday, Apr. 23, the county prosecutor's office said in a news release. An undercover officer purchased more than five ounces of cocaine from the two men in Atlantic City. Police executed several search warrants in the investigation on Thursday, Apr. 18. Mujica was found alone in his home with 2.5 kilograms of cocaine throughout the house.  In Mujica's home, police al…
Five Men Arrested On Drug Charges As Atlantic City Police Target Areas Of Violence Five Men Arrested On Drug Charges As Atlantic City Police Target Areas Of Violence
Five Men Arrested On Drug Charges As Atlantic City Police Target Areas Of Violence Five men were arrested in Atlantic City during a police operation targeting areas of violence, authorities said. In a news release, Atlantic City police said detectives conducted surveillance in the first block of South Florida Avenue on Thursday, Apr. 18. Four men were arrested for having or selling drugs. Isaiah Brown, 19, of Atlantic City, was taken into custody after running away from police. Once he was arrested, he continued to be uncooperative and struggled with detectives. Because of statements Brown made to police, he was brought to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Cente…
100 Animals Rescued, Ex-Con Druglord Charged With Leading Notorious NJ Dogfighting Ring 100 Animals Rescued, Ex-Con Druglord Charged With Leading Notorious NJ Dogfighting Ring
100 Animals Rescued, Ex-Con Druglord Charged With Leading Notorious NJ Dogfighting Ring More than 100 abused canines were rescued and several people seized in a raid on what authorities said was a large-scale nationally-known dogfighting enterprise run by a convicted South Jersey druglord. Two dogs reportedly were found dead in a pit in a rural Maurice River Township homestead that investigators said was the site of a massive operation run by widely-recognized dogfighting breeder, ex-con Bruce "Hollywood" Low Jr., 45. Others arrested include his mother and alleged business partner, Terri Low, 67, and son, dog handler Bryce Low, 20. “Profiting from dogfighting is callous, brut…
CYBERFOOTSIES: Ex-NJ Couple, Money Washer Confess $4.5M Online Romance Scam CYBERFOOTSIES: Ex-NJ Couple, Money Washer Confess $4.5M Online Romance Scam
Cyberfootsies: Ex-NJ Couple, Money Washer Confess $4.5M Online Romance Scam UPDATE: A former New Jersey couple and a local businesswoman have admitted scamming more than 100 lonely hearts out of $4.5 million in an elaborate online romance scheme, federal authorities charged. Martins Inalegwu, 35, took a deal from the government, pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Camden on Monday, March 25 to conducting an unlawful money-transmitting business and evading taxes for four straight years. Inalegwu's wife, Steincy Mathieu, 27, had already pleaded guilty to tax evasion last November.  Oluwaseyi Fatolu, 56, of Springfield, followed her by admitting this past …
Heroin, Fentanyl Dealer Arrested In Cape May County: Prosecutors Heroin, Fentanyl Dealer Arrested In Cape May County: Prosecutors
Heroin, Fentanyl Dealer Arrested In Cape May County: Prosecutors A Cape May County man was accused of selling heroin mixed with fentanyl, authorities said. Christian Ramos, 29, of Wildwood, was arrested on Friday, Mar. 15, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland announced in a news release. Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations helped police search Ramos, his vehicle, and several locations throughout Wildwood and Middle Township. Officers seized about 1,000 bags of heroin and $5,450 in cash. Laboratory analysis determined that previously seized heroin tested positive for fentanyl and xyl…
Central Jersey Drug Dealer Found In Atlantic City With Heroin, Cocaine: Police Central Jersey Drug Dealer Found In Atlantic City With Heroin, Cocaine: Police
Central Jersey Drug Dealer Found In Atlantic City With Heroin, Cocaine: Police A Mercer County man was accused of selling heroin and cocaine in Atlantic City, authorities said. Leroy Clark, 44, of Ewing, was arrested on Friday, Mar. 8, Atlantic City police said in a Wednesday, Mar. 13 news release. An officer saw Clark selling drugs to another man on the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue at around 4:45 p.m. Two other officers were able to arrest him, and investigators searched his vehicle and hotel room. Police seized 420 bags of heroin, nearly 10 ounces of cocaine, and items for selling drugs. Clark was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled d…
‘KITTY FLIPPERS’: $500,000 Worth Of Dangerous Ecstasy/Ketamine Mix Seized In Hudson ‘KITTY FLIPPERS’: $500,000 Worth Of Dangerous Ecstasy/Ketamine Mix Seized In Hudson
Kitty Flippers’: $500,000 Worth Of Dangerous Ecstasy/Ketamine Mix Seized In Hudson More than five kilos of a highly dangerous – and potentially fatal – drug mixture was seized and three men arrested in North Bergen in a joint operation of local and federal authorities. A handgun and $100,000 in drug cash were recovered along with the nearly 12 pounds of Ecstasy and Ketamine, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Members of Suarez’s Narcotics Task Force teamed up with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Newark and the federal Postal Inspection Service to make the case, the prosecutor said on Monday, Feb. 26. Arrested in the area of 91st Street and Bergenwood Aven…
Jersey Shore Man Found With More Than 2,000 Heroin Bags: Prosecutors Jersey Shore Man Found With More Than 2,000 Heroin Bags: Prosecutors
Jersey Shore Man Found With More Than 2,000 Heroin Bags: Prosecutors A Cape May County man was charged after police found him with more than 2,000 bags of heroin, authorities announced. Kelvin Claudio, 35, of Rio Grande, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 23, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland announced in a news release. His arrest came after an investigation that included agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. Police executed a search warrant on Claudio and several locations throughout Middle Township. Officers seized about 2,100 bags of suspected heroin and $1,373 in cash. Suspected h…
George Santos Is Out: Here's How NJ Delegates Voted George Santos Is Out: Here's How NJ Delegates Voted
George Santos Is Out: Here's How NJ Delegates Voted New Jersey's congressional delegation all shared the same sentiment when it comes to Rep. George Santos. They wanted him out, and they got it. The serial fabulist (R-Long Island) was expelled by the US House 311-114, with all 12 New Jersey representatives, including three Republicans, voting in favor of his ouster. The resolution required a two-thirds majority vote in order to pass. Santos was expelled amid mounting accusations of criminality. He is only the sixth member of Congress to be expelled in American history. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) and Ch…
$2M NJ Scammer Who Claimed Dead People As Biz Partners Gets 3 Years, No Parole $2M NJ Scammer Who Claimed Dead People As Biz Partners Gets 3 Years, No Parole
$2M NJ Scammer Who Claimed Dead People As Biz Partners Gets 3 Years, No Parole UPDATE: A scammer from Sussex County who fraudulently collected more than $2 million in federal funds by identifying people who'd been dead for more than a decade as business partners must spend the next three years in federal prison. John Jhong, 54, of Sparta, actually submitted bogus applications for more than $15 million in federal pandemic aid earmarked to help struggling companies during COVID-19, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Jhong "turned these vital relief programs into his personal ATM," spending the more than $2 million he illegally collected on personal expenses, the U.…
Family Ran Multimillion-Dollar Cathouse At NJ Strip Club, New Indictment Alleges Family Ran Multimillion-Dollar Cathouse At NJ Strip Club, New Indictment Alleges
Family Ran Multimillion-Dollar Cathouse At NJ Strip Club, New Indictment Alleges UPDATE: A fierce battle between a Middlesex County family and authorities who've charged them with operating a wildly lucrative whorehouse masquerading as a strip club intensified with a new round of charges. The owners of Club XXXV on Route 35 in Sayreville used “various illegal means to turn their club into a multimillion-dollar racket (that) doubled as a house of prostitution,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in Trenton alleges. More than $10 million in proceeds from the business “moved through numerous bank accounts c…
Case Of Stolen Identity Takes Twisted Turn For Atlantic City Heroin, Coke Dealer: Police Case Of Stolen Identity Takes Twisted Turn For Atlantic City Heroin, Coke Dealer: Police
Case Of Stolen Identity Takes Twisted Turn For Atlantic City Heroin, Coke Dealer: Police Natasha Miller apparently chose the wrong identity to steal. The 34-year-old Atlantic City woman presented police with the identification of a relative, who had several warrants out for her arrest — along with a suspended driver's license — during a traffic stop on North Missouri Avenue around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, city police said. Thinking Miller was the relative whom she was pretending to be, Miller was arrested based on the warrants.  Police then found 132 individual bags of heroin, more than 50 grams of cocaine, and more than $2,600 in cash, in Miller's possession. It …
10 Vintage Cars, 1.7 Pounds Of Coke, $332K Seized From Jobless NJ Drug Dealer: Prosecutor 10 Vintage Cars, 1.7 Pounds Of Coke, $332K Seized From Jobless NJ Drug Dealer: Prosecutor
10 Vintage Cars, 1.7 Pounds Of Coke, $332K Seized From Jobless NJ Drug Dealer: Prosecutor An unemployed Nutley man bought 10 vintage cars with the money he made selling cocaine, authorities charged. Authorities seized the “exotic” vehicles along with nearly $332,000 in cash that Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Omar Rios, 44, squirreled away in his apartment and a stash house. They also grabbed 1.7 pounds of cocaine, cutting agents, packaging material and a hydraulic press used to compress cocaine for packaging, the prosecutor said. Rios was seized during coordinated raids at his apartment in the Franklin Commons building on Franklin Avenue in Nutley, at a mixed-used …
NJ Dad, Son Busted Again, This Time In $2.5M Jersey Shore ‘Fix-and-Flip’ Scheme NJ Dad, Son Busted Again, This Time In $2.5M Jersey Shore ‘Fix-and-Flip’ Scheme
NJ Dad, Son Busted Again, This Time In $2.5M Jersey Shore ‘Fix-and-Flip’ Scheme It seemed state and federal prosecutors had thrown all they could at a Bergen County father and son for a series of multi-million-dollar investment scams. But state authorities announced a new indictment against both men on Monday, Nov. 6. This time, George Bussanich, Sr., 65, of Park Ridge, and George Bussanich, Jr., 43, of Upper Saddle River, are charged with defrauding investors and mortgage lenders out of more than $2.5 million through a “fix and flip” investment scam involving Jersey Shore real estate. Victims believed they were funding the purchase, renovation, and resale of four…
NJ Woman, 72, Indicted For Using Dead Caregiver's Info To Keep Collecting Insurance Payments NJ Woman, 72, Indicted For Using Dead Caregiver's Info To Keep Collecting Insurance Payments
NJ Woman, 72, Indicted For Using Dead Caregiver's Info To Keep Collecting Insurance Payments A 72-year-old New Jersey woman used phony timesheets and a bogus bank account from a dead caregiver to fraudulently collect insurance payments for long-term care from him, state authorities charged. Leoncia Hutchinson of Metuchen deposited the payments from the Continental Casualty Company into a dedicated account, then slid the funds back into her own, an indictment returned by a grand jury in Trenton alleges. For six months, Hutchinson treated the man’s death as “a moneymaking opportunity,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in announcing the indictment on Wednesday, Nov.…
Thelma & Louise? Out-Of-Staters With Phony Plate, Stolen IDs, Disguises Nabbed In North Jersey Thelma & Louise? Out-Of-Staters With Phony Plate, Stolen IDs, Disguises Nabbed In North Jersey
Thelma & Louise? Out-Of-Staters With Phony Plate, Stolen IDs, Disguises Nabbed In North Jersey Two out-of-state ID thieves with a cardboard license plate sped off from Oakland police down the wrong side of the road but were tracked down a short time later, authorities said. Sgt. Michael Griffin spotted the pair in a 2023 Nissan Maxima entering an exit and pulling up to a drive-through window at a TD Bank on Ramapo Valley Road around 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, Capt. Timothy Keenan said. The Maxima had tinted windows and an unreadable rear license plate apparently printed on a piece of cardboard, the captain said. Seeing the police, the driver backed out of the drive-through and sped …
Atlantic City Man Arrested With 12,000 Bags Of Heroin, 820 Ecstasy Pills At Casino Hotel: PD Atlantic City Man Arrested With 12,000 Bags Of Heroin, 820 Ecstasy Pills At Casino Hotel: PD
Atlantic City Man Arrested With 12,000 Bags Of Heroin, 820 Ecstasy Pills At Casino Hotel: PD A 42-year-old man from Atlantic City was arrested after being caught with nearly 12,000 bags of heroin in a casino hotel room, authorities said. On Friday, Oct. 13, patrol officers responded to Tropicana Atlantic City in reference to security personnel locating narcotics in property that had been removed from a guest’s room during an eviction process, police said. The items recovered from the hotel room included 11,695 individual bags of heroin, more than 3.3 pounds of unpackaged heroin, 40 grams of cocaine, 820 ecstasy tablets, paraphernalia used in the manufacturing and distribution of na…
Smoke Shops Raids Turn Up Marijuana, Untaxed Tobacco In South Jersey: Cops Smoke Shops Raids Turn Up Marijuana, Untaxed Tobacco In South Jersey: Cops
Smoke Shops Raids Turn Up Marijuana, Untaxed Tobacco In South Jersey: Cops A pair of smoke shops allegedly selling marijuana and untaxed tobacco were raided by police and state agents in South Jersey, authorities said. The raids resulted in the arrest of three men from New York City and Delaware, Gloucester Township police said on Thursday, Sept. 28. On Sept. 19, the Gloucester Township Police Department with the assistance of Winslow Township PD, Clayton Borough PD and agents from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation, Office of Criminal Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at two smoke shop retail locations in Camden County. The…
5 Including Barber Indicted On Drug Dealing, Weapons Charges In Atlantic County 5 Including Barber Indicted On Drug Dealing, Weapons Charges In Atlantic County
5 Including Barber Indicted On Drug Dealing, Weapons Charges In Atlantic County An Atlantic County Grand Jury returned a 28-count indictment against Marlow Guerrier, 34, of Somers Point and four co-defendants in connection with their drug dealing activities throughout Atlantic County, authorities said. Guerrier — who works a day job as a barber in Pleasantville — was charged with maintaining a drug production facility, weapons offenses, money laundering, possession of cocaine and 11 other charges, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. Holli Carter, 39, of Galloway Township, was charged with maintaining a drug production facility, possession of cocaine…
Cape May County Phone Scammers Claimed They Were From Amazon, DEA: Prosecutor Cape May County Phone Scammers Claimed They Were From Amazon, DEA: Prosecutor
Cape May County Phone Scammers Claimed They Were From Amazon, DEA: Prosecutor Two people have been arrested in connection with a phone scam, authorities said. On Aug. 29, the victim in this investigation received a call from a subject claiming to be from Amazon Customer Service, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, This individual claimed that they were calling because of an issue with a purchase and the victim’s identity was stolen. The victim was subsequently transferred to another individual claiming to be from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The victim was then told that there were multiple bank a…
Diamond District Operators From NJ, Long Island Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Diamond District Operators From NJ, Long Island Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds
Diamond District Operators From NJ, Long Island Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Four businessmen from New Jersey and one from Long Island laundered millions of dollars a day in cash through fronts they set up in New York City’s Diamond District, federal authorities charged. Federal agents tied the quintet to $673 million in dirty money laundered through the illicit operations over the past four years, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. In exchange, Raj Vaidya, 26; Rakesh Vaidya, 51; Shrey Vaidya, 23; and Neel Patel, 26, all of Edison; and Youssef Janfar, aka “Joe Rodeo,” 57, of Great Neck, NY collected sizable fees, he said. The three Vaidyas and P…
Paterson Jewelry Store Robbery Part Of Multi-State Crime Spree Involving DC Rapper: Feds Paterson Jewelry Store Robbery Part Of Multi-State Crime Spree Involving DC Rapper: Feds
Paterson Jewelry Store Robbery Part Of Multi-State Crime Spree Involving DC Rapper: Feds Three masked men who robbed a Paterson jewelry store of more than $1 million worth of merchandise at gunpoint last year were part of a violent East Coast crime ring that included a Washington, DC-based rapper, federal authorities said Wednesday. Trevor Wright – aka “Taliban Glizzy” – was among 16 defendants named in an indictment unsealed by federal authorities in the nation’s capital on Aug. 30. Mohammad Sheik had only just opened the Paradise Jewelry Store at the corner of Main Street and Delaware Avenue in Paterson several weeks earlier when the place was robbed last fall. It was one o…
Mid-Atlantic Crime Ring Arrests For NJ Armed Robberies, Carjackings Mid-Atlantic Crime Ring Arrests For NJ Armed Robberies, Carjackings
Mid-Atlantic Crime Ring Arrests For NJ Armed Robberies, Carjackings An indictment of 16 members of a violent mid-Atlantic crime ring has been unsealed and the federal agencies are naming names.  Of the 16, eight of the alleged crime ring members were arrested in the morning on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, police in Fairfax County, Virginia announced later that day.  They were all arrested in connection to a violent crime spree that took place between Jan. 7, 2022, through Jan. 27, 2023.  The crime ring members were all from Maryland and the District of Columbia. They met with their accused leader – Trevor Wright, also known as “Taliban Glizzy” …
South Jersey Men Arrested For Dealing Coke, Heroin, Fentanyl: Prosecutor South Jersey Men Arrested For Dealing Coke, Heroin, Fentanyl: Prosecutor
South Jersey Men Arrested For Dealing Coke, Heroin, Fentanyl: Prosecutor A pair of men from South Jersey have been arrested in connection with dealing a variety of drugs including cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, authorities said. Michael Morales, 31, of Cape May Court House, and Nelson Otero, 31, of Heislerville, were charged with the distribution of controlled dangerous substances and money laundering among other charges. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, authorities executed court-authorized search warrants on the residences and vehicles of Morales and Otero, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland. As a result of these searches, Tr…
South Jersey Man Had $10M In Stolen Checks In Large-Scale Money Laundering Scheme: Prosecutor South Jersey Man Had $10M In Stolen Checks In Large-Scale Money Laundering Scheme: Prosecutor
South Jersey Man Had $10M In Stolen Checks In Large-Scale Money Laundering Scheme: Prosecutor A 31-year-old man from Mays Landing and 35 others were indicted on charges stemming from a large-scale money laundering operation, authorities said. Isaiah Edwards-Stewart was indicted on Tuesday, Aug 29, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. The 120-count indictment charged Edwards-Stewart with multiple counts of money laundering, theft, forgery, computer crimes, identity theft, trafficking of personal identifying information, and other offenses. The investigation, which began in 2022, revealed Edwards-Stewart’s alleged involvement with the financial operati…
Ex-NJ Corrections Officer's Crypto Scam Targeted Police, Firefighters, EMTs: Authorities Ex-NJ Corrections Officer's Crypto Scam Targeted Police, Firefighters, EMTs: Authorities
Ex-NJ Corrections Officer's Crypto Scam Targeted Police, Firefighters, EMTs: Authorities A retired New Jersey corrections lieutenant preyed on his peers with a cryptocurrency scheme that cost participating police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders more than $620,000, state and federal authorities said. John DeSalvo, 47, of Linwood, also pulled a $100,000 investment scam that authorities said went to covering his credit card bills, day trading in cryptocurrencies and payments to a contractor who handled a luxury bathroom renovation for him. DeSalvo -- who worked for the New Jersey Department of Corrections for 13 years before retiring in 2010 -- created and promote…
South Jersey Woman Stole $675K In Investment Scheme: Prosecutor South Jersey Woman Stole $675K In Investment Scheme: Prosecutor
South Jersey Woman Stole $675K In Investment Scheme: Prosecutor A 59-year-old woman from South Jersey has admitted to defrauding a woman out of $600,000 and then stealing her identity, authorities said. Wei Song, 59, of Egg Harbor Township, faces 16 years in New Jersey State Prison under her plea agreement on money laundering and identity theft charges, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. This case involved a multi-year social engineering scheme that resulted in financial losses of over $600,000 from one victim and over $75,000 in identity theft damages, the prosecutor said. The defendant preyed upon the victim, convincing he…
LOTTERY LOSERS: South Jersey Scammer Admits Laundering $4M From Innocent Victims LOTTERY LOSERS: South Jersey Scammer Admits Laundering $4M From Innocent Victims
Lottery Losers: South Jersey Scammer Admits Laundering $4M From Innocent Victims A South Jersey man admitted laundering more than $4 million from victims who were tricked into thinking they'd won the lottery. Pablo Estrada, 26, of Florence, received the proceeds through various scams over the course of 2½ years, including one in which victims received an unexpected notification that they'd won a large sum in a lottery, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. They were required to pay fees and expenses, however, before their winnings could be released, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey said. Many fell for the scheme, Sellinger said. Estrada dumped the money into va…
Somers Point Couple Used Facebook, Teenage Son In Drug-Dealing Operation: Prosecutor Somers Point Couple Used Facebook, Teenage Son In Drug-Dealing Operation: Prosecutor
Somers Point Couple Used Facebook, Teenage Son In Drug-Dealing Operation: Prosecutor Investigators said they found thousands of drug deals on Facebook and evidence a couple was using their 14-year-old son to deliver drugs. An Atlantic County grand jury indicted John Garman, 38, and Donna Shiffler, 39, of Somers Point on Wednesday, Aug. 2, authorities said. They each were charged with numerous drug offenses, child endangerment and money laundering, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. Their Facebook account was called "Garmans Goods," selling marijuana, THC products and hallucinogenic mushrooms, the prosecutor said. The couple was arrested on May 25, …
2 Guns Recovered, 3 Arrested After Atlantic City Drug Deal: Police 2 Guns Recovered, 3 Arrested After Atlantic City Drug Deal: Police
2 Guns Recovered, 3 Arrested After Atlantic City Drug Deal: Police Atlantic City police recovered two handguns and arrested three people after officers allegedly witnessed a drug deal, authorities said. On Tuesday, July 18, at about 8 p.m., Detectives Alberto Valles and Christopher Dodson and Officers Brandon Bower and William Harned were patrolling the Bungalow Park section of Atlantic City. They saw Xavier Leon Jr. approach a vehicle with Joseph Hill and Shabria Cooper-Carter inside in the 700 block of Wabash Avenue, police said. The officers observed Leon and Hill engage in a drug deal, police said. After Leon walked away, the officers stopped him. H…