Two New York City men have been arrested following a month-long investigation by Fort Lee law-enforcement agents. This is according to an announcement that was made by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office on Wednesday. The two defendants, are a 35-year-old male from the Bronx and a 39-year-old male from Queens. Both men, according to Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli, were arrested on December 6, 2012.
Based on information that Fort Lee law enforcement officials received regarding the defendants drug activities, undercover detectives were able to embed themselves into their drug operation. Eventually the undercover law-enforcement agents were able to purchase 25 g of cocaine from the defendants on December 4, 2012. The undercover law enforcement agents then made arrangements to purchase 400g of cocaine from these two men. This purchase was supposed to go down on December 6, 2012. The arranged purchase price was $18,800. However, just prior to when the transaction was set to occur, on December 6, law-enforcement agents from the Fort Lee Police Department, with support from the authorities from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office moved in and arrested the two defendants based on their cocaine sale two days earlier.
After the arrest, the police searched the Dodge Charger that the defendants rented, and they uncovered 400 g of what is thought to be cocaine in three separate plastic bags. Both of these men have been arrested, and are currently in Bergen County Jail with a $200,000 bail.
The Bergen County Prosecutors Office will most likely charge the defendants with distributing cocaine, a crime of the second degree, based on the December 4, 2012, sale. The defendants face up to ten years in a New Jersey State Prison on theses charges alone. In addition, the Defendants will most likely also be charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, a crime of the first degree, based on the December 6, 2012, arrest. If convicted of this offense alone the defendants face up to twenty years in a New Jersey State Prison. Therefore, the defendants will be facing up to thirty years in prison if convicted of both counts.
The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is an experienced Bergen County Criminal Defense Firm with a long track record of success. We have the experience and skill set required to successfully protect your liberty. If you or someone you know has been charged with a drug offense in Bergen County we can help. Please contact any one of our Bergen County Offices for free initial consultation with any one of our eight criminal defense attorneys on staff.