5 days ago
24 arrested in major Central Jersey drug bust, prosecutor announces
A long-term, multi-agency investigation concluded with a coordinated narcotics enforcement operation on May 29 that led to the arrest of 24 individuals and the seizure of a substantial quantity of illegal drugs, firearms and cash, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced.
On May 29 members of the Union County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence and Narcotics Division, along with officers from more than 20 police departments including Linden, Roselle, Rahway, Elizabeth, Union County, Union County Sheriff's Office, Cranford, Summit, Kean University, Berkeley Heights, Springfield, Scotch Plains, Union and Woodbridge as well as the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, Middlesex, Essex and Union counties and Newark SWAT, executed 14 search warrants across multiple locations.
These locations included Linden, the Avenel section of Woodbridge, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Elizabeth, East Orange and Newark, officials said.
The expansive operation was the result of a comprehensive investigation by the Intelligence and Narcotics Division and the Linden Police Department Narcotics Bureau targeting a drug distribution network operating mainly in Linden and Roselle.
"Illegal drug sales and the violent crimes associated with it are some of the most destructive forces in our community today," stated Linden Police Chief David Hart. "This investigation has dismantled a complex criminal network, disrupted the flow of illegal drugs into our cities, and saved countless families from further violence and suffering. We are incredibly proud of the work done here, and grateful to the Union County Prosecutor's Office and all of our law enforcement partners for their incredible cooperation and support throughout the course of this investigation."
The execution of the search warrants yielded substantial seizures, including:
$81,559 in U.S. currency
6 handguns
431 grams of suspected powder cocaine
73 grams of suspected crack/cocaine
2,149 prescription pills
500 prescription Xanax pills
32 fluid ounces of Promethazine
19 pounds of suspected marijuana
22 grams of suspected heroin
16 folds of suspected heroin
127 grams of suspected methamphetamine
112 grams of cutting agents used to process controlled dangerous substances (CDS)
Drug paraphernalia used for packaging CDS
Drug paraphernalia used to operate a drug mill
"This network, which was operated by people ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s, conspired with the united purpose to distribute illicit drugs in the Union County area," Daniel stated. "The success of this investigation is a testament to the unwavering dedication and exceptional collaboration among all participating law enforcement agencies. We are committed to dismantling drug distribution networks that fuel crime and endanger our communities."
The individuals facing the most serous charges include:
Hamid Holloway, 44, of East Orange: Charged with of first-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, second-degree certain persons not to have weapons, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, two counts of second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substances crime, three counts of third-degree possessing a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine.
Steve Dale, 42, of Elizabeth: Charged with first-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons, three counts of second-degree possession of firearm while committing controlled dangerous substances offense, third-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances, third-degree possession of firearm without a serial number, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of school property and two counts of fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine,
Khylah Brown, 28, of Elizabeth: Charged with first-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, three counts of second-degree possession of firearm while committing controlled dangerous substances offense, third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances, third-degree possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances within 1000 feet of school property, third-degree possession of firearm without a serial number and two counts of fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.
Brian Perez, 34, of Elizabeth: Charged with first-degree maintaining/operating a narcotics production facility, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent todistribute, two counts of second-degree possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances within 500 feet of public property, third-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.
Diane Oreilly, 64, of Roselle: Charged with first-degree maintaining/operating a narcotics production facility and third-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances CDS.
Joel Coupaud, 70, of Roselle: Charged with first-degree maintaining/operating a narcotics production facility and third-degree conspiracy to distribute.
Michael Giles, 44, of Roselle: Charged with first-degree maintaining/operating a narcotics production facility and disorderly persons use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
Ildefonso Colon, 28, of Roselle: Charged with two counts of second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and three counts of fourth-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Sean Kelly, 32, of Elizabeth: Charged with second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, three counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
Edward Fish Jr., 46, of Plainfield: Charged with second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public property, third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances and third-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances.
Jessica Montes-Bustillo, 25, of Elizabeth: Charged with second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substances offense, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public property, second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and fourth-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances.
Anthony Brown, 31, of Elizabeth: Charged with second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substances offense, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public property, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and fourth-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances, 2C:35-10A(3)
Eugene Doss, 44, of the Avenel section of Woodbridge: Charged with second-degree possession of a prescription legend drug with intent to distribute, third-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, fourth-degree possession of a prescription legend drug, fourth-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and fourth-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
Jevaughn Brown, 30, of Rahway: Charged with second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public property, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances.
Naim Holloway, 44, of East Orange: Charged with second-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute and third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substances.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Union County Prosecutor's Office NarcoticsTask Force Detective Dylan Cosgrove at 908-341-3088 or Linden Police Detective Michael Olbrysat 908-474-8515.
email: cmakin@
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@ or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on Central Jersey drug bust leads to 24 arrests, guns, cashed seized
