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Violent NJ Human Trafficking Rings Dismantled Where Women, Teens Were Forced Into Sex: AG
Seven people have been arrested in the dismantling two human trafficking rings, one in North Jersey and one in South Jersey, authorities said.
The rings were based in Essex County and Cumberland County, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said at a news conference on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Khailah Meekins, 21 and Donte Barkley, 28, both Newark residents, trafficked two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old in Essex County, Platkin said. Meekins and Barkley arranged sexual encounters for the girls through mobile apps that included online ads featuring nude photos of the minors. The girls would be…
Mugshots Released: SWAT Raid Uncovers 28K Fentanyl Pills, Meth, Ghost Guns In Bergen County
A major drug bust in Bergen County led to the seizure of tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills, along with cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and untraceable firearms, authorities said in announcing the arrests of the three men behind it.
Ramon Morillo, 39, of Fort Lee; Brandon Morillo, 31, of Lodi; and Joseph Diaz, 34, of Fort Lee, were arrested on Thursday, Nov. 7, following a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
The investigation began in July 2024, when detectives identified Mo…
Clifton Driver Asleep At Wheel Had Heroin, Cocaine In Lyndhurst: Police
A 37-year-old man who police found asleep behind the wheel of a car was found with drugs and more than $1,100 in cash, police in Bergen County said.
Lyndhurst Police Officer Dorio approached a Toyota Corolla stopped in the middle of the 300 block of Harding Avenue around 3:35 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28, where a man later identified as Daniel Barro Jr., of Clifton, was sleeping behind the wheel, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said.
With the vehicle running and still in drive, Dorio rendered the vehicle safe before waking Barro.
"Upon learning of the police presence, Barro attempted to conceal …
Passaic Man, Bloomfield Duo Stole $100K+ In Business Checks From Mailboxes: Police
Two men and a woman from North Jersey were accused of stealing more than $100,000 in business checks from Wall Township mailboxes, authorities said.
James Miller, 37, of Passaic; Kaleik Easton, 29, of Bloomfield; and Asia Harrell, 31, also from Bloomfield; were arrested, the Wall Township Police Department said in a news release.
Investigators said businesses were defrauded out of more than $100,000 after checks were taken from their mailboxes. Police executed two search warrants at the suspects' homes and they were taken into custody on Wednesday, Sept. 19.
Detectives …
18 Pounds Of Pot Seized From Consignment Shop Drug Ring Bloomingdale, Butler Trio: Police
Three people have been arrested after authorities uncovered a massive drug ring being run out of a North Jersey thrift store.
Search warrants executed at businesses, storage units, and vehicles in Bloomingdale, Newton, and Wayne turned up 18 pounds of marijuana and 1.13 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, Bloomingdale police said.
Jesse A Baron, 43, of Bloomingdale, and Ryan T Smith, 36, of Butler, and Daniel F. Valerio, 39, of Bloomingdale, were slapped with various drug possession and distribution charges for running the scheme out of Thrifty Hippie Consignments on Main Street in Bloomin…
$1.1M In Drugs, 5 Firearms, $65K Seized From NJ Man, Prosecutor Says
A 35-year-old Mercer County man is facing a slew of charges after investigators uncovered $1.1 million in drugs, five handguns, and $65,000 in cash from him, authorities said.
James Nalbone Jr., 35, of Hamilton Township, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 7, following a month-long investigation, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton said.
Detectives detained Nalbone at his home on Byron Avenue and executed a search warrant, Hilton said. Sgt. Tom Paglione's K-9 partner, Indy, gave positive indications of a drug odor at multiple locations within the premises, poli…
$8K, Oxy, More Drugs Seized From Passaic County Dealers After Wayne Investigation: Cops
A pair of Passaic County men have been arrested for drug dealing, authorities said.
A concerned resident tipped Wayne police off, who launched an investigation with help from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Haledon Police Department, the Pompton Lakes Police Department and the Wayne Police Patrol Division, police said.
Police began surveillance on Louis C. Colao, 50, of Prospect Park, and Armando Verdina, 45, of Paterson, on Tuesday, July 24, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said.
Officers watched as Colao carried out drug deals in various Wayne Township parking lots, Daly s…
Paterson Drug Dealer Charged In OD Death Of Westwood Victim, 38, Prosecutor Says
A 39-year-old Paterson man has been charged with providing the drugs that allegedly resulted in a fatal overdose of a Westwood man in May, authorities said.
Jesus A. Cantillo is believed to have provided the drugs that led to the death of 38-year-old Lance Kerness, of Westwood, who was found unresponsive in a home on May 2, 2024, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Friday, June 28.
Kerness was pronounced dead at the scene, Musella said. Indicators of a possible drug overdose were noted, and detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force were no…
5-Pound Pot Bust Behind School Sidelines Dealer: Elmwood Park PD
An Elmwood Park man who'd parked behind a local school had five pounds of pot for sale in his car, authorities said.
Officers approached the vehicle, which was parked behind the Gantner Avenue School, shortly before 9 a.m. on a Sunday, Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said.
They found Richard Wochinger, 45, with a pound of marijuana each packed into five vacuum-sealed bags, a digital scale and assorted paraphernalia, the chief said.
Wochinger was charged with possession and distribution of the pot, among other offenses, before being released pending court action.
