Madison Man Arrested With 15 Others in Interstate Cocaine Bust

Fifteen men and one woman from New York and New Jersey were arrested Wednesday after a five-month long investigation into an interstate drug distribution ring, seizing nearly 1,000 grams of cocaine, four pounds of marijuana and more than $7,000 in cash, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp announced.

An investigation began in April based on information collected by an “astute” Morristown policeman, Knapp said, and was done in conjunction with multiple agencies across five counties in New York and New Jersey, including the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force.

The investigation concluded Wednesday when all 16 were arrested and charged with various cocaine distribution charges. During the arrests, 930 grams of cocaine and four pounds of marijuana were seized. In addition, 13 vehicles used by the alleged drug dealers were also seized along with more than $7,000 in cash. Seven of the defendants are from Morris County.

The bulk of the cocaine seized had a retail value of more than $93,000, Knapp said.

Thirteen of the defendants are over age 40, with the eldest 69 years of age, Knapp said.

The 16 arrested, along with their charges, are:

Julio C. Santana, age 51, of Bronx, New York, is alleged to have imported bulk quantities of cocaine into New Jersey that he sold to numerous New Jersey based street level cocaine distributors. Santana was charged with:
(2) Counts Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute greater than 5 ounces, (1st Degree)
(1) Count Distribution of Cocaine greater than 5 ounces, (1st Degree)
(6) Counts of Possession of Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(4) Counts of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
(4) Counts of Distribution Cocaine greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
(1) Count Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, greater than 5 ounces, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, greater than 5 ounces, (2nd Degree)
(1) Count Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, greater than 5 ounces, (2nd Degree)
Santana was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on a $500,000 no 10% bail.

Jairo Rada-Medina, age 44, of Dover, NJ was charged with:
(2) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(3) Counts of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Rada-Medina was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $150,000 no 10% bail.

Johel Teo, age 43, of Rockaway, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
(1) Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Teo was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $150,000 no 10% bail

Carlos Andreas Salinas-Cartagena, age 35, of Lake Hiawatha, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
Salinas-Cartegena was released on his own recognizance.

Aubrey Ward, age 64, of Englewood, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Ward was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $150,000 no 10% bail

Clarence Edward West, Jr., age 65, of Englewood, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
West was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $100,000 no 10%

Mingo R. Roach, age 53, of Dumont, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
(1) Count of Possession of Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
Roach was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $100,000 no 10% bail.

Israel Santa, age 51, of Dover, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Possession of Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Possession of Cocaine w/Intent to Distribute
Santa was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $125,000 no 10% bail.

Daniel Payamps, age 44, of Paterson, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Payamps bail was set at $150,000 no 10% as a detainer and is lodged in the Passaic County Correctional Facility on another pending charge.

Carlos Escobar, age 27, of Dover, NJ was charged with:
(1) Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Escobar was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $150,000 no 10% bail.

Alberto Diaz-Moreno, age 45, of Elizabeth, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
Diaz-Moreno was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $10,000 with 10% option.

Jose Suarez, age 44, of Union City, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Suarez was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $150,000 no 10% bail.

Pablo C. Lopez, age 69, of Union City, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
Lopez was released on his own recognizance.

Camilo Rogelio, age 46, of New York, NY was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Poss. w/ Intent to Distribute Cocaine, greater than one-half ounce, (2nd Degree)
Rogelio was lodged in Riker’s Island and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey

Angelica G. Villanueva, age 26, of Dover, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams, (4th Degree)
(1) Count of Possession w/Intent to Distribute Marijuana greater than 1 oz, (3rd Degree)
Villanueva was released on her own recognizance.

Rosemberg Giraldo-Arboleda, age 48, of Madison, NJ was charged with:
(1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, (3rd Degree)
Giraldo-Arboleda was released on his own recognizance.

Agencies involved in the investigation included the Morristown Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit (Narcotics Task Force), Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Montville Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office (Criminal Investigation Section, K-9 and Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team), Morris County Park Police, Parsippany Troy Hills Police Department, Jefferson Township Police Department, New Jersey State Parole, Madison Borough Police Department, Morris Township Police Department, Randolph Township Police Department, Rockaway Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Union City Police Department, City of Passaic Police Department, Rockaway Borough Police Department, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Borough of Dumont Police Department and City of Englewood Police Department.