N.J. State Commission of Investigation
Narcotics Traffic and Drug Law Enforcement
1973-74
In a December 1973 public hearing and its 1973 Annual Report, the
Commission recommended mandatory minimum sentences for serious
offenders, forfeitures of money seized in connection with narcotics
arrests and the establishment of full-time prosecutors. All were
substantially implemented by the Legislature and law enforcement
authorities.
The SCI identified the victim of a murder and then located three
suspects and participated in their arrests. In October 1974, one of the
suspects was convicted of the murder. The other two defendants pleaded
guilty to lesser charges and testified for the prosecution. Also, as a
result of evidence referred by the SCI to the Essex County Prosecutor, a
burglary ring was exposed by the Prosecutor's staff. A Newark jeweler
and his son were indicted and convicted of conspiracy and of receiving
stolen property. The Essex Grand Jury in 1974 handed up more than 20
indictments against members of the burglary ring.
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P.O. Box 045
Trenton, NJ 08625-0045
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