For law enforcement officials, controlling the constant influx and sale of illegal drugs, whether it be cocaine, heroin, marijuana or prescription drugs is an ongoing battle. At times, what at first appears to be a simple drug bust, actually turns out being something even more productive. This can be seen in the case of what happened in Fort Lee New Jersey on January 2, 2013.
On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, officer Timothy Cullen who works with the narcotics unit for the Fort Lee Police Department, was driving near a McDonald’s on Lemoine Avenue just before 8 PM. While he was patrolling the area, this officer saw a Lexus RX vehicle, that had New Jersey plates on it. According to the officers, the Lexus pulled up next to a Honda Accord with New York license plates, that was sitting in the McDonald’s parking lot. Officer Cullen then witnessed the defendant, a 20-year-old resident of Ridgefield New Jersery, exit the Lexus and walk up to the side of the Honda and engage in a drug transaction. When Dale got back into his vehicle, officer Timothy Cullen followed him in his unmarked police vehicle. The officer stopped the vehicle and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed that the defendant was in possession of five bags of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.
While Officer Cullen was pulling over the Lexus, another marked Fort Lee police vehicle pulled over the Honda vehicle. Upon asking for the passengers identification, the police discovered that one of the passengers in the vehicle was a fugitive from the Bronx. According to the police, the passenger is wanted out of New York for producing and distributing narcotics. As a result the defendant was arrested and placed in the Bergen County Jail. He is currently awaiting an extradition hearing and bail has not been set yet.
The defendant driving the Lexus will most likely be charged with distributing marijuana and based on the amount of marijuana discovered, the defendant will be charged with a fourth degree indictable (felony) offense. Provided this offense did not occur within a school zone or park and the defendant is not subject to the Brimage Guidelines, the defendant will be facing up to eighteen months in a New Jersey State Prison if convicted. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is an experienced Bergen County Criminal Defense Firm. If you or someone you know has been charged with a criminal or traffic offense in Bergen County we can help. Please contact any one of our Bergen County Offices for a free initial consultation with any one of our eight criminal defense attorneys.