Last month, police seized a vehicle and roughly $500,000.00 in cash during a heroin bust.
According to authorities, several people had complained about illegal activity occurring at 222 2nd Avenue in Paterson, NJ. As a result, detectives from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance of the home.
The detectives watched as a man parked a green BMW in the driveway and carried a blue gym bag inside the house. A short time later, the man left the house with the bag and got into his car. The detectives quickly pulled the vehicle over and found approximately half a million dollars in cash inside the gym bag.
The man was identified as 38-year-old Massachusetts resident Fredy Lora-Castillo.
Later, the detectives returned to the home and found it being used as a venue for milling and packing heroin. Police allegedly seized roughly one (1) pound of uncut heroin, as well as scales, glassines for packaging, and cutting agents.
Police arrested a man found inside the home. He was identified as 40-year-old Mexico resident Mario Jaramillo Magallon.
Mr. Lora-Castillo and Mr. Magallon were both charged with distribution of heroin and possession of heroin. They were also charged with distribution of heroin within 100 feet of a grammar school.
In New Jersey, distribution of heroin is addressed by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5. The penalties for heroin distribution vary, depending on the amount of heroin. Here, because detectives found approximately one (1) pound of heroin in the house, it is likely that Mr. Lora-Castillo and Mr. Magallon would be charged with first degree heroin distribution. If convicted of first degree heroin distribution, the suspects could each face a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For more information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Police Seize BMW, $500K in Cash from Suspected Heroin Dealers in Paterson.”
