3 Arrested, $31K In Drugs Recovered In Mercer County Bust: Police

Three people were arrested and $31,000 in drugs were recovered following a five-month investigation by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the prosecutor’s office announced.

Larry Stewart, AKA “Get Right,” 32, of Trenton, was the target of an investigation that began in January. Between January and May, police said they made numerous undercover drug purchases of cocaine, and spent countless hours on surveillance. That investigation concluded on May 24 with the execution of search warrants for multiple locations and vehicles.

Stewart was using stash houses and other individuals to store his cocaine in an effort to shield himself from law enforcement, police said. He also used delivery people during the course of the investigation.

Stewart was arrested in a parking lot on South Broad Street during an alleged drug transaction, at which time police say they seized 100 grams of powder cocaine and $729 in cash.

Just before the alleged transaction, police say they saw 57-year-old Juanita Brooks, of Trenton, leaving one of the stash locations on Genesee Street and driving directly to Stewart. She was arrested when she returned home. Jazzlin Porter, 25, of Trenton, was also arrested as the search warrants were being executed.

Police say they recovered 200 grams of crack cocaine and 100 grams of powder cocaine during a search of the Genovese Street residence.

In another location on Monmouth Street, police say they found 60 bricks of heroin. More than $9,000 in cash was found at a home in Hamilton Township, and an additional 40 grams of powder cocaine were discovered in a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier.

Altogether, police say they recovered about 200 grams of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of $10,000. The total amount of powder cocaine seized was approximately 240 grams with an estimated street value of $12,000, police said.

The estimated street value of the seized heroin is $9,000, and $9,789 in cash was also seized, according to police. A 2014 Mercedes Benz and a 2009 Dodge Ram were both seized as drug proceeds.

Stewart is charged with multiple counts of controlled dangerous substance possession and distribution. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to have Stewart detained.

Brooks is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and first-degree possession with the intent to distribute.

Porter is charged with two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count of possession of marijuana under 50 grams.

Officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police Canine Unit, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Hamilton and Trenton police, under the command of the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, assisted with the investigation.

The attached images of Larry Stewart, Juanita Brooks and Jazzlin Porter were provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office