FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 320-3550
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
DATE: Friday, March 25, 2022
THREE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH WEEHAWKEN DRUG INVESTIGATION
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On Thursday, March 24, 2022, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Municipal Task Force and Narcotics Task Force, the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Union City Police Department arrested Nicolas Mora-Daza, age 24, of Union City, Christopher Gonzalez, age 33 of Union City and John Perez, age 31, of Weehawken regarding the sale of illegal drugs.
The arrests were made following a one-month investigation involving the sale of cocaine to an undercover officer on multiple dates and a court authorized search warrant of a residence in Weehawken resulting in the recovery of approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $125,000.
Mora-Daza is charged with Distribution (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5c, a crime of the first degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(1), a crime of the first degree; five counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) Within 500 Feet of Public Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1a, a crime of the second degree; five counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) Within 1,000 Feet of a School in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7a, a crime of the third degree; Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1), a crime of the second degree; Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(1), a crime of the third degree; three counts of Distribution (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(2), a crime of the second degree; and two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5(b)3, a crime of the third degree.
Gonzalez is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(1), a crime of the first degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) Within 500 Feet of Public Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1a, a crime of the second degree; Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1), a crime of the second degree; and Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(1), a crime of the third degree.
Perez is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(1), a crime of the first degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5(b)3, a crime of the third degree; Possession with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine) Within 500 Feet of Public Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1a, a crime of the second degree; Conspiracy to Distribute (cocaine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1), a crime of the second degree; and Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(1), a crime of the third degree.
The defendants were transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending their first court appearance.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Task Force, the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team, Homeland Security Investigations, the Weehawken Police Department, the Union City Police Department and the UCPD K-9 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)