Cops: Four Charged, $280,000 in Heroin Seized

Law enforcement officials seized $280,000 in heroin following a month-long investigation, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri and Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr. said Monday morning.

The target of the investigation was Jemar Conover, 30, of Trenton.

Police stopped a black Chrysler 200 as part of a surveillance at Covert Alley and Firth Avenue around 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 4.

The driver of the car, 36-year-old James Edens, of Trenton, and the passenger, 33-year-old Scotland Ford, of Trenton, were arrested after police allegedly saw 430 bricks of heroin stamped “Block Party” in a black bag on the back seat in plain view.

Edens and Ford had allegedly just purchased the heroin from Conover.

Edens allegedly had $3,371 on him, and Ford allegedly had $292 on him.

Officers from the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force arrested Conover and his sister, Michelle Conover, on South Broad Street in Trenton around 9:30 that night.

Officers with the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office SERT then executed a search warrant at a home on West State Street, but were unable to find anything of evidentiary value, police said.

However, a search of Jemar Conover’s silver Lincoln Aviator allegedly revealed $3,307. The vehicle was seized as drug proceeds.

Police allegedly found two vehicles without license plates in the backyard. A K-9 search of the outside of both cars led officers to believe there was heroin inside. A 2001 black Hyundai Santa Fe and a black Volkswagen Jetta were towed and secured while search warrants were obtained, police said.

Police allegedly found about 70 bricks of heroin stamped “Block Party” behind the driver’s seat of the Hyundai. Both vehicles were seized as drug proceeds.

Jemar Conover was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park and possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. His bail was set at $100,000 cash or bond.

Michelle Conover was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park and possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. Her bail was also set at $100,000 cash or bond.

Additional drug charges are pending against both Conovers.

Edens was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park, possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of marijuana under 50 grams. His bail was set at $150,000 cash only.

Ford was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park, possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of marijuana under 50 grams. His bail was set at $100,000 cash or bond.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Unit, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the MCSO SERT, the New Jersey State Police, and the Hamilton, Lawrence and Trenton police departments all participated in the investigation.

The attached images of Scotland Ford, James Edens and Michelle Conover were provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office