2 Mercer Men Among 5 Charged in Cocaine, Firearms Ring Spanning NJ, Ohio

MERCER COUNTY, NJ - Two Trenton men are among five charged in connection with a cocaine distribution and firearms trafficking ring that stretched from New Jersey to Ohio, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Kelvin Tavarez, 30, of Trenton, and Kenny Scaley-Sandoval, 32, a Guatemalan citizen without legal status in the U.S. also residing in Trenton, were charged following a months-long investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations unit, authorities said.

Three others — Enoc Pimentel, 39, and Andy Nazario, 44, both of Clifton, and Timothy Rios, 32, of Lorain, Ohio — were also charged.

All five had initial court appearances June 10 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn in Trenton federal court, with the exception of Rios, who was arrested in Virginia and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight in the Eastern District of Virginia. Scaley-Sandoval, Tavarez, and Pimentel were detained. Rios is pending transportation to New Jersey.

Investigators say the operation involved the on-demand delivery of large quantities of cocaine and the interstate transportation of firearms sold for profit. HSI recovered more than 3.8 kilograms of cocaine tied to the drug distribution conspiracy involving Scaley-Sandoval, Tavarez, and Pimentel, along with 16 handguns and rifles connected to the firearms trafficking conspiracy involving Scaley-Sandoval and Rios.

During a court-authorized search of Nazario's home June 10, officers recovered cocaine, drug distribution materials, and cash from his attic, Frazer said.

Charges and potential penalties break down as follows: Scaley-Sandoval faces conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to traffic firearms; Tavarez and Pimentel face conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Rios faces conspiracy to traffic firearms; and Nazario faces possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The cocaine distribution conspiracy carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. The firearms trafficking charge carries up to 15 years; the possession with intent charge carries up to 20 years.

“As this investigation makes clear, our office is laser focused on ensuring public safety for the people of New Jersey. The conduct alleged by these individuals involved the interstate transportation of firearms sold for profit and large quantities of cocaine delivered on demand,” Frazer said in a statement.

“I am proud of the unrelenting efforts of our law enforcement partners through the Homeland Security Task Force as we identify and dismember groups that threaten our communities.”

The investigation was led by HSI's Newark office. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, New Jersey State Police, Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, and Mount Laurel Police Department also assisted.

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