Last month, the Essex County Narcotics Task Force conducted two raids in Newark, resulting in the seizure of stolen guns, marijuana, and cocaine, as well as the arrests of three individuals.
According to Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and Newark police director Samuel DeMaio, the raids were conducted by Newark police officers and detectives from the prosecutor’s office at the J&C Barber Shop and at a home on Bedford Street.
At the barber shop, located on 14th Avenue, police discovered 420 grams of cocaine, the street value of which has been estimated at approximately $42,000.
Authorities subsequently charged 39-year-old Jorge Matias Tejada with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone, and intent to distribute cocaine within 500 feet of a public housing facility.
Distributing, dispensing, or possessing cocaine with intent to distribute within 500 feet of certain public property in New Jersey is governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1. The statute includes public housing facilities among the list of “certain public property.” This offense constitutes a crime of the second degree, which is punishable by a term of incarceration between five (5) and 10 years in NJ State Prison.
Intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone in New Jersey is governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7, which addresses controlled dangerous substances near or on school property. This is considered a crime of the third degree, which warrants a term of incarceration between three (3) and five (5) years in state prison.
The other raid also led to an arrest. When the investigation squad searched the private residence on Bedford Street, they discovered seven handguns and over 82 grams of marijuana. Three of the seven handguns were identified as stolen. As a result, 30-year-old Mozzored Jones is facing a variety of charges including unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Tejada and Jones are facing significant penalties associated with the crimes for which they are accused. Presumably, their respective defense attorneys will have to explore whether there are any suppression issues related to the manner in which the searches were conducted and the evidence that was ultimately seized.
For more information pertaining to this incident, see the NJ.com article entitled “Newark Raids Turn Up Stolen Guns, Drugs, Three Arrests, Authorities Say.”
