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Jerome “Jerry” Gebbia (MUGSHOT courtesy Emerson PD)
Jerome “Jerry” Gebbia, 31, remains held on $200,000 bail following his arrest late last week, which ended a cat-and-mouse game that, according to a police report, left him invoking his right not to say anything.
The informant first tipped off Franklin Lakes police, who called their counterparts in Emerson, where Gebbia has worked at Weathercraft Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of awnings, canopies and other outdoor home enhancements.
Another tip followed soon after: A package believed to contain a chemical used in making GHB was headed for the Oradell UPS store, Emerson Capt. George Buono told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Oradell police quickly passed on the tip to Emerson, where Buono said Detective Michael McDermott was already assembling a case.
Then everyone waited.
On Thursday, the packaged arrived. Something inside was leaking, Buono said.
Bergen County’s Hazardous Materials Unit was called in and determined that it was GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone), a colorless, oily liquid used in making the date-rape drug.
Buono and McDermott went to Oradell Police headquarters.
“We repackaged the material and put it in the suspect’s mailbox for him to pick up,” Buono told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
As they watched in plain clothes nearby, the captain said, Gebbia picked up the package and went straight to his shop. Buono then obtained a search warrant for the business.
Friday night, the captain and McDermott went to the Weathercraft shop, at 13 Emerson Plaza East, just off Kinderkamack Road. Parked in back was an empty Infiniti with its dome light on, police records show.
Just before 9 p.m., the report says, Gebbia walked out of the shop, got into his car and began driving south on Kinderkamack Road.
Buono radioed ahead, and a uniformed patrol officer pulled over the Infiniti.
Gebbia refused a request to search his car, so it was impounded, the report says. He was also taken to headquarters, where he invoked his right to remain silent.
Besides finding chemicals at the shop, the police report says, the detectives pulled 60 ounces of ready-made GHB – 28 grams.
The common dose is between 1.5 and 2 grams. Prices are often $20 or more per dose.
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