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TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
today announced charges against 40 people
as a result of an investigation into a drug
distribution network linked to the Bloods
street gang that operated in two violent
Newark neighborhoods. The investigation,
which resulted in arrests of the leaders
of the ring, also uncovered smuggling of
cell phones and drugs into Northern State
Prison.
The
charges stem from Operation Red Storm, an
18-month investigation led by the Division
of Criminal Justice, with assistance from
the Boonton Police Department, Newark Police
Department, New Jersey Department of Corrections
and New Jersey State Police.
Detectives
and officers of the Division of Criminal
Justice, Newark Police Department, Boonton
Police and Department of Corrections arrested
19 individuals yesterday at various locations.
Ten other defendants were arrested previously
in the investigation. Another 11 defendants
are being sought on arrest warrants or summonses.
Detectives have seized more than 250 “bricks”
of heroin, over a kilogram of cocaine, more
than $60,000 in cash, four semi-automatic
handguns, an assault rifle, and four vehicles.
The
investigation focused on a network that
was distributing heroin and cocaine in two
sections of Newark: the Fabyan Avenue area
and the “Chadwick Corridor”
including Avon and Chadwick Avenues. The
Chadwick Corridor has been identified by
the Newark Police Department as one of the
most violent districts in the city. Among
those arrested are two Newark men alleged
to be leaders of the network: Ameer Thompson,
28, and Cardeia “Fatboy” Harrell,
33. The investigation also resulted in charges
against a cook employed at Northern State
Prison, Elijah Harris, 35, of Newark, and
an inmate, Norman Willie Wade, 45, who allegedly
were smuggling drugs and cell phones into
the prison to sell to inmates.
“We
have arrested the alleged leaders and numerous
other members of a drug network linked to
the Bloods, which used guns to control its
turf in two particularly violent sections
of Newark,” said Attorney General
Dow. “Our goal in taking down this
criminal network is to disrupt its drug
trafficking activities and make these neighborhoods
safer.”
“This
is another great example of an intelligence-led
investigation involving cooperation among
state and local law enforcement agencies,”
said Director Taylor. “We will continue
to make such investigations a priority in
our efforts to combat drug trafficking and
violent street gangs.”
“I
commend the dedicated and cooperative efforts
of all the law enforcement agencies that
took part in this exhaustive investigation,”
said Director Garry McCarthy of the Newark
Police Department. “Today’s
arrests are another step toward ridding
our city of violent, habitual offenders
who have little regard for the law or the
neighborhoods they attempt to control,”
he concluded.
“I
commend the law enforcement agencies whose
collaborative efforts throughout this investigation
led to these charges,” said Commissioner
Gary M. Lanigan of the Department of Corrections.
“Bringing a cell phone – not
to mention narcotics – into a prison
is rightfully classified as a criminal offense,
and the individuals responsible have been
appropriately charged. This is just the
latest example of why the passage of the
Safe Prisons Communication Act, which would
allow cell phone jamming in prisons under
specific circumstances, is so critically
important. Passage of the bill would mean
that even if an inmate managed to acquire
a cell phone, it would be useless in a prison
setting.”
“Operation
Red Storm was a first class undertaking
from start to finish,” said Boonton
Police Chief Mike Beltran. “It is
an outstanding example of teamwork among
law enforcement agencies large and small
in engaging drug trafficking activity that
affected not only Newark but suburban regions
also. The Boonton Police Department was
glad to participate in the success of the
operation. We thank Detective Renshaw and
the other members of the Division of Criminal
Justice team who worked with our detective
on the case. Their professionalism and work
ethic made the difference.”
Thompson
was arrested today. He is charged with first-degree
offenses, including leading a narcotics
trafficking network, distribution of narcotics,
and conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
The charge of leading a narcotics trafficking
network carries a sentence of 25 years to
life in state prison. Harrell is charged
with distribution of narcotics and possession
of narcotics with intent to distribute,
both in the second degree.
Harrell
was arrested on June 10 along with Aaron
Watson, 33, of Newark, as the two men allegedly
met to conduct a drug transaction. Watson
allegedly had 171 grams of cocaine and two
bricks of heroin in a hidden compartment
in his vehicle, along with bylaws and other
documents related to the Brick City Brims
set of the Bloods. He allegedly had $2,000
on his person. Harrell allegedly had $2,304
on his person, and $8,000 in a hidden compartment
of his car.
A
search warrant was executed that day at
Watson’s apartment, where detectives
allegedly seized approximately a kilo of
cocaine, 12 bricks of heroin, $40,255 in
cash, a scale and narcotics packaging materials.
Watson is charged with first-degree offenses
of distribution of narcotics and possession
of narcotics with intent to distribute.
Search warrants were executed at eight other
locations. Arrests made yesterday resulted
in the recovery of additional drugs, three
handguns, one assault rifle and $6,000 in
cash.
Elijah
Harris was arrested on June 11 by members
of the New Jersey Department of Corrections
Special Investigations Division and New
Jersey State Police. Harris is charged with
bribery, official misconduct, conspiracy
to distribute heroin, and providing a cell
phone to a prison inmate, all second-degree
offenses.
Wade
is charged with second-degree conspiracy
for allegedly conspiring with Harris to
distribute narcotics and cell phones in
the prison.
A
Newark woman who is employed as a state
corrections officer at Northern State Prison,
Gale Bishop, 53, is charged with second-degree
possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
The charge relates to alleged conduct that
occurred outside of the prison.
The
remaining defendants are charged with second-
and third-degree offenses of drug distribution
or possession with intent to distribute.
A full list of the defendants and charges
is attached to this release.
Operation
Red Storm was a cooperative investigation
by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau, the Boonton
Police Department, the Newark Police Department,
the New Jersey Department of Corrections,
and the New Jersey State Police. Attorney
General Dow credited Detective Louis Renshaw
of the Division of Criminal Justice, who
was the Case Detective, and Sgt. Christian
Trowbridge of the Boonton Police Department.
Overseeing the daily operations of the investigation
were Lt. Chuck Foley, Sgt. John Delesio,
and Deputy Chief Al Buecker from the Division
of Criminal Justice. The Deputy Attorney
General assigned to this case is Philip
J. Mogavero. Attorney General Dow also credited
all of the individuals who worked on the
investigation for each of the participating
agencies, including members of the New Jersey
State Police Intelligence Section.
The
charges were filed by complaint. The complaints
are merely accusations and the defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Because they are indictable offenses, the
charges will be presented to a grand jury
for potential indictment.
Other
than the charge of leading a narcotics trafficking
network, the first-degree crimes charged
carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in
state prison and a $200,000 fine. Second-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years
in prison and a $150,000 fine, while third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in prison a $15,000 fine.
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