Four Charged in Months-Long Narcotics Investigation

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Four Charged in Months-Long Narcotics Investigation

Home > Four Charged in Months-Long Narcotics Investigation


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Friday, July 21, 2023

FOUR ARRESTED FOLLOWING MONTHS-LONG NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, four individuals were arrested in Secaucus following a months-long investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Jersey Division. During the course of the investigation, over two kilograms of cocaine – with a street value of approximately $65,000 – over 125 grams of fentanyl – with a street value of more than $9,000 – and over $6,000, suspected proceeds from narcotics transactions, were seized.

Franklin Rodriguez-Liberto, 40, of Jersey City, is charged with three counts Possession with the Intent to Distribute (fentanyl) in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:35-5a(1) /2C:35-5b(5), crimes of the third degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (fentanyl) in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:35-5a and 2C:35-5b(2), a crime of the second degree; Conspiracy to Distribute (fentanyl) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(4) and 2C:5-2, a crime of the second degree; Distribution (fentanyl) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(4)/2C:35-5C, a crime of the second degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (fentanyl) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(4), a crime of the second degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(1), a crime of the first degree; Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1) and 2C:5-2, a crime of the second degree; Money Laundering in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a, a crime of the third degree; and Possession with the Intent to Distribute (marijuana) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(11)(a), a crime of the third degree.

Richard Pena-Rodriguez, 37, of Union City, is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute (fentanyl) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(4), a crime of the second degree and Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1) and 2C:5-2, a crime of the second degree.

Steven Reyes, 44, of North Bergen, is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1) and 2C:5-2, a crime of the second degree.

Christopher Delacruz, 24, of New York, is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1) and 2C:5-2, a crime of the second degree.

All four defendants were arrested on Mill Creek Drive in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending their first court appearances. The charges are the result of multiple narcotics transactions that occurred in Secaucus and Kearny between April 2023 and July 2023.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Jersey Division, the Elizabeth Police Department, the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations – Newark, Hudson County Regional SWAT, the Secaucus Police Department K9 Unit, and the Bayonne Police Department K9 Unit with the investigation and arrests. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).