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19 arrested in drug ring probe

Saturday, June 20, 2009
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A probe into the burgeoning methamphetamine market in Hudson County has taken down a distribution network selling $10,000 worth of the drug each week and resulted in the arrests of 19 people, authorities announced yesterday.

Police also seized two guns during the investigation and police called the U.S. Secret Service into the investigation after counterfeiting equipment was found during execution of arrest and search warrants on June 9 and 10, officials said. Eight Hudson County residents were snared in the probe.

Edward Cruz Jr., 40, of Belleville, is charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network and conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of methamphetamine, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, whose office began the investigation with Bayonne police.

Also facing the conspiracy charge are Jersey City residents Andy Philip, 24, of Monmouth Street; Carcious Lloyd Thompson, 40, of Kensington Avenue; Jason Camerino, 29, of Fairview Avenue; Ladislao Rodriguez, 53, of Wayne Street; Michael Trinidad, 22, of Neptune Avenue; Stephen L. Scarano, 44, of Ogden Avenue; Virgilio Peralta, 64, of Cottage Street and Patrick Fleming, 50, of North Bergen, DeFazio said.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

It is believed the drug was bring transported from the West Coast for distribution in Hudson County, where it is not as prevalent as other areas of the country. Methamphetamine is five times more expensive than cocaine in this area, DeFazio said.

Methamphetamine is second only to alcohol and marijuana as the drug used most frequently in many western and midwestern states, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

The drug comes in different forms, including a crystal form known as "Ice," and it can be smoked, snorted, injected or taken orally.

William Gadek III, 33, of Perth Amboy, was also charged in the conspiracy and when police searched his home they found evidence of a counterfeiting operation in which $1 bills were bleached and reprinted in higher denominations, DeFazio said. Gadek is not charged with counterfeiting and the Secret Service investigation is ongoing.

The sweep also included arrests in Essex, Bergen and Middlesex counties, as well as in New York, DeFazio said, adding that numerous law enforcement agencies were involved.