Cocaine Distribution discovered in Bergen County New Jersey
Bergen County Law Enforcement Officials are constantly trying to crack down on the illegal drug use in New Jersey. One of the main reasons behind this push to stop illegal drug use, is that in addition to the harm that it causes to the user, it often leads to them committing secondary crimes that usually affect the entire community. A good example of this was a situation that took place in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.
In August of this year, 16 tires with their rims were stolen from a local business in Bergen County. Each set of tires has a value of up to $4000. A similar situation took place on November 26th of this year. On this occasion there were 12 tires, and 12 rims stolen. According to witnesses, every time this took place, there was a single male in the area who was driving a late model Chevy Van.
Thanks to a a tip that they received, police officers were able to identify the perpetrator as Christopher Mason. Police visited this 48-year-old Lodi residents home. Upon arrival they saw a Chevy Van that matched the description given by some eyewitnesses to the earlier crimes. Thursday evening, around 10 PM at night law enforcement officials followed this 1994 Chevy Van to a repair lot located on Route 17 in Carlstadt. There they saw Mr. Mason attempt to sell the stolen tires. When confronted, he confessed to committing multiple crimes of this sort in New Jersey and Massachusetts. His reason for stealing the tires was that he needed money to support his cocaine habit.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office will most likely be charging the defendant will theft of moveable property, burglary and receiving stolen property if they cannot prove either of the two offenses. Provided that the value of the tires in question were over $500 but less $75,000 the defendant will be charged with two third degree felony theft charges. If convicted, the defendant will face up to five years in a New Jersey State Prison on each offense. In addition, the defendant will most like be charged with burglary in the third degree, which will also subject the defendant to a potential five year prison sentence. These are very serious charges in New Jersey and require the attention of a experienced Bergen County criminal defense attorney. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has over 100 years of combined experience on staff. If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in New Jersey we can help. If you have any further question please contact any one of our Bergen County Offices for a free initial consultation.