Police Shut Down Illegal Liquor Speakeasy In Essex County, NJ

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Newark police have charged six people with operating an alleged illegal speakeasy bar in Essex County, authorities say.

On Sunday, acting in response to “citizen complaints,” the Newark Police Department orchestrated a raid at an alleged after-hours liquor establishment operating from the 2nd floor of Chico’s Auto Repair Shop at 283 Mount Pleasant Avenue, authorities said.

Newark detectives entered the location and seized multiple containers of alcohol that were allegedly being sold without the proper licenses, authorities stated.

Police arrested six suspects during the raid:

• Argeni Castro, 32 of Newark, was arrested and charged with maintaining an unlicensed liquor establishment, unlawful possession of alcohol, and illegal sales of alcohol.
• Melissa Reyes, 22 of Newark, was arrested and charged with aiding in illegal alcohol operations.
• Xiomarky Reyes, 27 of Newark, was arrested and charged with aiding in illegal alcohol operations
• Jacob Jimenez, 25 of Elizabeth, was arrested and charged with aiding in illegal alcohol operations
• Felix Ortiz-Perez, 37 of Newark, was arrested and charged with aiding in illegal alcohol operations
• Maikol Salas, 26 of Hyattsville, MD, was arrested and charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession with the intent to Distribute, Possession with intent to distribute within a 1,000 feet of a school and Possession of Cocaine with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a Housing Complex

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