3 More Arrests As Police Investigate Drug Sales At Secaucus Motels

SECAUCUS, NJ — Police say these three people have been involved in the sale of illegal drugs at the town's motels, which Secaucus Police have been quietly investigating since June.

Police say they also kidnapped a man at knifepoint in Jersey City on June 25 of this year and drove him around Hudson County for hours in the back of a U-Haul truck. This is because he owed money to the woman, Erica Festino a.k.a. Erika Potente, 47, of North Bergen, say police. They ultimately let the man go after they robbed him.

Everyone involved, including the kidnapping victim, was selling illegal drugs out of various Secaucus motels, say police. Secaucus Police have never said which motels.

Secaucus Police announced this all Monday in a press release.

Potente was arrested, but the two men, Roberto Lascano, of West New York, and Louis Governara, of Jersey City, remain wanted by police and are at large.

Secaucus Police, joined by North Bergen PD and Jersey City PD Major Case, executed a search warrant at Potente's home on Palisade Avenue in North Bergen on Oct. 20.

Police say they found a significant quantity of suspected methamphetamine, Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, Adderall, Ritalin and Clonazepam in her home. They also found fake credit cards, fake IDs, ledgers with banking information plus the private mail and Social Security cards of more than 100 people.

Three more suspects, Allison Chavez, Roman Shapiro and Paige Rosado, were also found inside her home at the time of the raid, and were placed under arrest.

As part of the Secaucus PD's investigation into motel drug sales, six people were arrested this past summer, and more than five ounces of methamphetamine, Fentanyl pills and more than 480 grams of suspected Fentanyl and cocaine were seized. Read that story: Fentanyl Pills Sold All Summer Long At Secaucus Motels, Police Say (Sept. 2023)

All the following have been charged:

• Erika Festino a.k.a. Erica Potente, 47, of North Bergen was charged with Kidnapping [2C:13-1], Robbery [2C:15-1], Conspiracy to Commit Robbery [2C:5-2/2C:15-1], Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine [2C:35-5b(9)(a), Possession of CDS [2C:35-10a(1)], Possession with the Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-3] Trafficking in Personal Identifying Information of Another [2C:21-17.3b(2)] and Credit Card Theft [2C:21-6c(1)].
• Louis P. Governara, 49, of Jersey City is wanted on the charges of Kidnapping [2C:13-1], Robbery [2C:15-1], Conspiracy to Commit Robbery [2C:5-2/2C:15-1].
• Roberto Lascano, 37, of West New York is wanted on the charges of Kidnapping [2C:13-1], Robbery [2C:15-1], Conspiracy to Commit Robbery [2C:5-2/2C:15-1].
• Allison Chavez, 24, of Brooklyn NY was charged with Possession of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate [2C:35-10.2], Trafficking in Personal Identifying Information of Another [2C:21-17.3b(2)], Credit Card Theft [2C:21-6c(1)] and Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking in Personal Identifying Information of Another [2C:5-2/2C:21-17.3b(2)]. She was released pending her appearance in court.
• Roman Shapiro, 43, of Fort Lee was charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10a(1)] and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-2]. He was released pending a court appearance.
• Paige Rosado, 31, of Brooklyn NY was charged with Trafficking in Personal Identifying Information of Another [2C:21-17.3b(2)], Credit Card Theft [2C:21-6c(1)] and Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking in Personal Identifying Information of Another [2C:5-2/2C:21-17.3b(2)]. She was released pending a court appearance.