NJ Men Bought Drugs From China, Sold Them In Newark: Prosecutors

NEWARK, NJ — Four New Jersey men have been accused of taking part in a “drug trafficking and money laundering” operation that was based out of a trailer in Newark, federal authorities announced Thursday.

William Panzera, 49, of North Haledon, Thomas Padovano, 48, and Bartholomew Padovano, 71, both of Newark, and Sean Tighe, 46, of Kearny, were charged with one count of drug trafficking conspiracy and one count of international promotional money laundering conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Thomas and Bartholomew Padovano were also charged with domestic concealment money laundering conspiracy.

Prosecutors released the following statement about the allegations:

“Since at least 2014, the defendants and others imported and distributed various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including ketamine, ethylone, multiple fentanyl analogues, and synthetic cathinones, also known as ‘bath salts.’ The drug trafficking organization members ordered the drugs from sources in China. They stored and distributed the controlled substances from a trailer on Delancey Street in Newark. They also procured one or more pill presses and pressed the fentanyl analogues into small blue pills that were designed to resemble a commercial opioid pill and were marketed as such. These pills contained various amounts of fentanyl analogues and resulted in at least three overdoses between 2016 and 2020.”

Prosecutors continued:

“The defendants allegedly paid for the drugs they imported by sending, or recruiting others to send international wire payments to the Chinese sources of supply. To conceal and disguise the nature and source of the illicit narcotics proceeds, Thomas and Bartholomew Padovano made numerous cash deposits into various personal and business accounts. Both the international wire payments, as well as the cash deposits, were structured in a manner to avoid suspicion.”

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