License Of South Jersey Liquor Store Used For Drugs Revoked: AG

The license of a Bellmawr liquor store that was used as part of a drug trafficking network has been revoked, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control announced on Tuesday.

In May 2016, the three owners of Johnnies Liquor Store — Jalat Patel, 46, of Somerdale, Rakesh Patel, 43, of Somerdale and Dhananjaya Patel, 48, of Somerdale — were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), distribution of a CDS and distribution in a school zone. They were arrested by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office following a three-month investigation.

In a Final Conclusion and Order issued on Oct. 4, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages Control found that the three men brothers their West Browning Street store to be used as part of a drug trafficking ring.

Two other people — 27-year-old Dominique Green, and 59-year-old Armando Rosario, both of Bellmawr, were also arrested and charged with their roles in the operation, in which narcotics were sold out of the laundromat across the street from the liquor store, according to authorities.

Green was charged with eight counts of possession of heroin and crack cocaine, seven counts of distribution of heroin and cocaine and one count of manufacturing a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Rosario was charged with four counts of possession of oxycodone pills and four counts of distribution of oxycodone pills.

During the investigation in which an undercover detective bought drugs, authorities said the dealers often retrieved the drugs from the liquor store. Officers executed a search warrant at the liquor store on March 26, 2016. During that search, they said they found 368 narcotic pills — including 259 of the opioid drugs Oxycodone, Roxicet, and Tramadol — from a private office in the back of the store, along with $13,732 in cash and other items.

During the investigation, the Patels acknowledged their participation and allowing the use of their licensed premises as part of this enterprise, according to authorities.

In 2017, the Division’s Enforcement Bureau charged the brothers with 12 violations of ABC regulations that prohibit illegal drug activities on licensed premises and sought to revoke its liquor license.

In his ruling, Director David Rible found that the three Patel brothers were “acting in a highly egregious, injurious and irresponsible manner,” abused their privilege of holding an alcoholic beverage license in New Jersey, and ordered the revocation of Rakesh, Inc.’s license.

Under the terms of the Final Conclusion and Order, Rakesh Patel, Jalat Patel, and Dhananjaya Patel are ineligible to hold or receive any other alcoholic beverage license of any kind or class for a period of two years.

The three Patel brothers were admitted into a pre-trial detention program, according to authorities. The program allows first-time offenders the opportunity for an alternative to prosecution. They didn’t have to enter a guilty plea to enter the program.

Charges were dropped against Rakesh Patel after he completed the program, according to authorities. The other two brothers also finished the program, but there was no information as to whether those charges had been dropped.

Whether the charges were dropped against any or all of the brothers had no impact on the decision to revoke the liquor store’s license, according to authorities.

Green pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute on March 10, 2017, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. He was subsequently sentenced to five years of probation.

Rosario pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute on March 27, 2017, according to the prosecutor's office. He was also sentenced to five years of probation.

See related: 5 People Arrested, Drugs Seized In Big Drug Bust In South Jersey: Police

Patch file photo