47 Charged In Sprawling NJ Drug Bust Across 4 Counties

NEWARK, NJ — Police carried out a massive drug bust in Newark, Harrison, Kearny and Monmouth and Ocean counties last week, arresting 31 people and seizing more than $1 million in narcotics, authorities said.

Another 16 people have been charged in connection with “Operation Short Storm” and still remain at large, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Public Safety Department.

“It is alleged that drug dealers delivered to buyers at their homes or other locations throughout the Ironbound section of Newark in what was a retail business on wheels,” prosecutors stated Tuesday.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said the alleged drug ring tried to avoid law enforcement attention by using inconspicuous vehicles to make deliveries to a “well-established customer base.”

During raids on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, police seized more than 50 pounds of marijuana and two kilograms of cocaine with a combined street value of $1.1 million. Police also confiscated 62 oxycodone pills, three Xanax pills, jewelry, nearly $300,000 in cash, 12 vehicles – including two Mercedes Benz 500 sedans – and seven guns, including a .223 assault rifle and 12-gauge shotgun.

Detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office along with officers from police agencies in Newark, Harrison, Kearny, Monmouth County and Ocean County carried out the search warrants.

The sprawling police operation also included assistance from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Bloomfield Police Department, Essex County Sheriff’s Department, East Hanover Police Department, East Orange Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Irvington Police Department, Lacey Police Department, Livingston Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Department, Montclair Police Department, Newark Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Paramus Police Department, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Paterson Police Department, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, West Orange Police Department and West Caldwell Police Department.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the following people were charged as part of Operation Short Storm:

• Helder Goncalves, age 41, of Newark charged with Conspiracy, (3) counts Possession of CDS, (3) counts Possession of CDS w/intent to distribute, promoting gambling, Fortified premises, (2) possession of a weapon (Handgun) while committing a CDS offense, (2) counts of violation of weapon regulatory provisions Possession of CDS w/ 1000 feet of a school, Possession of CDS w/ 500 of a Park, Maintaining or operating controlled dangerous substance production facility, Possession of paraphernalia.
• Aurelia Goncalves, age 39, of Newark, was arrested on outstanding warrants; Also charged with Possession of a weapon (Handgun).
• David Pereira, age 45, of Keansburg was charged with Co Conspiracy, (2) counts Possession of CDS, (2) counts Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute, 91) distribution of CDS (cocaine) Possession of Prescription legend drugs, Possession of prescription pills w/ intent to distribute, violation of weapons regulatory provisions (Handgun), Possession of hollow point bullets, Possession of a weapon (Handgun) while committing a CDS offense.
• Valeria Victer, age 21, of Keansburg was charged with Conspiracy, Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute, Possession of Prescription legend, Possession of prescription legend drugs w/ intent to distribute, violation of weapons regulatory provisions (Handgun) Possession of hollow point bullets, Possession of a weapon (Handgun) while committing a CDS offense.
• Jaime McCullough, age 42, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy, Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS w/intent to distribute, Maintaining or operating controlled dangerous substance production facility, Possession of CDS w/ 1000 feet of a school, Possession of CDS w/ 500 of a Park, (2) violation of weapons regulatory provisions (Handgun), (2) counts of Possession of a weapon (Handgun) while committing a CDS offense. Possession of paraphernalia.
• Avamarie Pinho, age 46, of Newark was charged with Conspiracy, (2) violation of weapons regulatory provisions, Possession of a weapon (Handgun), (2) Possession of a weapon while committing a CDS offense, Possession of CDS, Possession CDS w/ intent to distribute, Possession of prohibited device, possession of hollow point bullets.
• Johnathan Martins, age 28, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy, Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute, Possession of CDS within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of Paraphernalia.
• Aristides Stradiotti, age 33, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy, (3) counts of Possession of CDS, (3) counts of Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute, (3) counts of Possession of CDS within 1000 feet of a school, (3) counts of Possession of CDS within 500 feet of a Park, Possession of drug paraphernalia Conspiracy to promote gambling.
• Pedro Moutinho-Alves, age 41, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy, Distribution of CDS.
• Antonio Marques, age 38, of Harrison, was charged with Conspiracy, Distribution of CDS.
• Brian Teixeira, age 29, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy, Possession of prescription legend drugs.
• Abner Torres, age 41, of Newark (Not Apprehended), was charged with Conspiracy, Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS w/intent to distribute.
• Jovanni Perez, age 39, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Kelvin Portes, age 30, of Elizabeth, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• David Borges, age 33, of Hillside, is charged with was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Frank Cunha, age 55, of Harrison, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jose Carneiro, age 52, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jose Dacosta, age 64, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jose Dealmeida, age 35, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Alan Devivo, age 63, of Bradley Beach, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Marinete Doyle, age 52, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Lillian Duarte, age 26, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Luiz Esilva, age 53, of Linden, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Annmarie Golya, age 50, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jose Hermo, age 44, of Harrison, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Edna Lovelace, age 48, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• James Lovelace, age 51, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Joseph Longueira, age 50, Union, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• John Malik, age 36, of North Bergen, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Erica Marcinczyk, age 31, of Sayreville, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Juan Martinez, age 43, of Belford, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Gustavo Mendez, age 50, of Rahway, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Carlos Nicolau, age 38, of Kearny, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Rafael Oliveira, age 32, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Richard Palma, age 50, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Fernando Pires, age 48, of Perth Amboy, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Vanderlei Santana, age 38, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Carlos Simoes, age 37, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Danny Tavares, age 34, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Angelo Trindade, age 42, Rahway, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jose Paz, age 38, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Angel Ruiz, age 46, of Belleville, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Michael Sori, age 49, of East Rutherford, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jose Fernandez, age 70, of Newark, was charged with Conspiracy to distribute CDS.
• Jennifer Stradiotti, age 35, of Newark, was charged with (3) counts of Possession of CDS, (3) counts of Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute, (3) counts of Possession of CDS within 1000 feet of a school, (3) counts of Possession of CDS within 500 feet of a Park, Possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Samantha Montez, age 24, of Hillside, was charged with Conspiracy, Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute, Possession of CDS within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of Paraphernalia.

In addition, a 32-year-old Kearny resident was charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS. The charge was dismissed in June.

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