A man in Paterson was arrested twice last week and is now facing multiple drug charges, as authorities believe that he is responsible for selling controlled dangerous substances including heroin and cocaine.
The man in question, 21-year-old Luis Ramirez, was reportedly awakened by two officers from the Passaic County Sheriff s Department while he was sleeping in the hallway of an apartment building located at 315 Park Avenue in Paterson s 5th Ward on Friday, April 17th.
Ramirez is said to have admitted to selling heroin before providing the officers with 10 glassine packets containing the drug. After his arrest, a search revealed another 59 packets of heroin on his person, in addition to 4 small bags of marijuana.
Notably, Ramirez had already been arrested just four days earlier in the same building, after a citizen complaint prompted officers to the location, where they arrested Ramirez for allegedly selling heroin and cocaine.
Now, Ramirez is facing severe penalties as a result of the crimes for which he is accused. For example, New Jersey law addresses charges for distribution of heroin and cocaine in the same statute, codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5. According to this section, violations involving heroin and cocaine can be classified as first, second, or third degree crimes. The degree of these charges is contingent upon the amount of the substance associated with the alleged offense, which in turn, determines the sentencing guidelines for those convicted.
It is important to note that these charges are also punishable by significant fines, the amount of which is determined by the degree of the charges. For example, a charge for first degree heroin distribution, involving five ounces or more of the substance, is punishable by a sentence to serve between 10 and 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, as well as a fine of up to $500,000.
For additional information pertaining to this case, access the following article: Police: Paterson drug dealer caught napping on the job
