Nine people, including a 17-year-old from Paterson, are facing charges after a months-long drug investigation culminated in coordinated raids across four Passaic County towns, turning up seven firearms, more than 500 rounds of ammunition and a stash of cocaine, heroin, pills and cash. Eight adults and the juvenile were taken into custody following searches of 12 locations in Paterson, Passaic, Haledon and Hawthorne earlier this month.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced the arrests, saying investigators uncovered weapons, drugs, cash and materials allegedly used to prepare and distribute controlled substances during the November 10 searches, according to TAPinto. The investigation was carried out by the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics, Gangs, and Violent Crimes Task Force, working alongside the Passaic and Haledon police departments, the FBI's Newark field office and the Passaic County Sheriff's Office.
A Four-Month Investigation Comes to a Head
The probe began back in August and targeted the distribution of cocaine and other drugs in Paterson, Haledon and Passaic, per the prosecutor's account relayed by TAPinto. Patch similarly describes it as a multi-agency investigation into a drug-dealing ring that launched in August, with the November 10 searches marking the operation's culmination.
When investigators moved in on the 12 locations, they got help from a wide swath of law enforcement: police departments from Clifton, Hawthorne and Paterson, William Paterson University police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Jersey State Police and the Bergen County SWAT team all assisted with the searches, according to the same TAPinto account.
Guns, Drugs and Cash Pulled From the Searches
The haul was substantial. Authorities seized seven firearms along with more than 500 rounds of ammunition, and Patch's report adds that several large-capacity ammunition magazines were also recovered. On the drug side, the TAPinto account puts the cocaine seizure at approximately 37 ounces, while Patch describes it as more than two pounds — figures that are broadly in line with one another.
Investigators also reported finding 20 grams of heroin, oxycodone, alprazolam and ecstasy pills, five pounds of marijuana and THC products, and 245 grams of promethazine, per the TAPinto account. Materials associated with drug production and distribution were seized as well. On cash, the two outlets differ slightly: TAPinto cites $9,653 seized, while Patch describes the amount as nearly $10,000.
Who Was Arrested
The adults arrested were identified as 34-year-old Carlos Urena of Paterson, 26-year-old Cristian Rojas of North Haledon, 29-year-old Josean Alexander of Passaic, 29-year-old Leonardo Vargas of Paterson, 19-year-old Sebastian Henao of Paterson, 19-year-old Derrikc Tolentino of Clifton, 29-year-old Christian Henao of Paterson and 27-year-old Jose Vasquez of Paterson, according to the prosecutor's account. The ninth defendant is the 17-year-old from Paterson.
The adult defendants are being held at the Bergen County Jail, while the juvenile defendant is being held at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center pending family court proceedings. Prosecutors did not specify which charges apply to each individual defendant, saying only that the group faces various drug and weapons charges.
Charges Carry Decades-Long Exposure
Among the offenses cited in the investigation is first-degree leading a narcotics trafficking network, which carries a potential sentence of 25 years to life upon conviction. Maintaining a drug production facility and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute are also first-degree charges, each carrying a potential prison term of 10 to 20 years, per the prosecutor's announcement.
Additional charges in the case include possession of a firearm during a drug offense, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a firearm by a person legally prohibited from having one. Pretrial detention hearings for the adult defendants are scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Prosecutors described the investigation as active, noting that additional information could be released as it develops. The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office is asking anyone with information to call 1-877-370-PCPO or email [email protected].
