FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 320-3550
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 2023
THIRD PERSON ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH WEST NEW YORK NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force has arrested a third person in connection with a months-long narcotics investigation in West New York.
James Belardo, age 41, of West New York was arrested without incident on March 15, 2023 at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus. Belardo, a United States Postal Service employee, has been charged with Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in a quantity greater than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2) and 2C:5-2a(1), a second-degree crime. He was released pending his first court appearance which is tentatively scheduled for March 29, 2023.
Two codefendants, Rowaldi Caceres, age 39, and Hilda Membreno, age 29, both of West New York, were previously arrested. On Sunday, February 26, 2023, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force executed a court-authorized search warrant for an apartment shared by Caceres and Membreno. The subsequent search resulted in the recovery of more than one kilogram of cocaine – with the street value of approximately $35,000 – a handgun, three large capacity magazines, and approximately $30,000, suspected proceeds from narcotics transactions. Caceres and Membreno were arrested at the scene.
The following day, a court-authorized search warrant of Caceres’ car was executed. The search resulted in the recovery of hollow point bullets and a second handgun.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General with the investigation and arrest.
The above charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)