South Brunswick Man Ran Dark Web Drug Business: Prosecutor

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - A 45-year-old South Brunswick man was indicted as the leader of a multi-million dark web narcotic trafficking business, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.

Chester Anderson was one of five people and two corporations have been named in a 30-count indictment regarding a multi-million-dollar criminal enterprise responsible for manufacturing and distributing narcotics in New Jersey, New York and thru the Dark Web, authorities said.

Anderson, Jarrette Codd, 42, of Jamesburg, and Ronald MacCarty, 51, of Jackson in Ocean Township were indicted on first degree racketeering as well as two companies Next Level Research & Development, Inc. d/b/a/ sinmed located in South Brunswick and MTM Cellular, LLC. d/b/a/ Wireless Spots in Asbury Park, according to Carey.

Anderson has been indicted as a leader of a narcotics trafficking network and promoting organized street crime; both first-degree crimes. He was also indicted for the second degree crimes of:

• being a leader of organized crime
• use of a 17-year-old or younger to commit a criminal offense
• endangering the welfare of a child

The charges in the indictment also include the first degree crimes of maintaining or operating drug production facilities in:

• South Brunswick
• Old Bridge
• City of Vineland
• County of Cumberland

Carey also noted the fourth degree crimes in the indictment included possession with intent to distribute a variety of illegal and prescription legend drugs, and unlawful possession of handgun ammunition.

Next Level Research & Development, Inc. d/b/a/ sinmed and MTM Cellular, LLC. d/b/a/ Wireless Spots were indicted for financial facilitation of criminal activity in the first degree for dealing with property or engaging in transactions involving property known to be derived from criminal activity, Carey said.

Anderson, Jarette Codd and his wife Tania Codd, Ronald MacCarty and his wife Marissa MacCarty have all been indicted for failure to file personal tax returns and failure to pay income taxes, Carey said. Next Level Research & Development, Inc was also indicted for failure to file and pay business tax returns, all third-degree crimes.

Two Year Investigation

The 30-count indictment were handed up following a presentation to a Middlesex County Grand Jury by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Russell Curley was the culmination of two years of investigatory work.

The investigation began in 2017, when the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office uncovered a series of suspicious transactions involving bitcoin, a digital cryptocurrency, authorities said. These transactions were linked to a New Jersey based company named Next Level Research and Development, which listed Jackson resident Ronald MacCarty, and Chester Anderson as affiliates, authorities said.

Further investigation determined that between March 2016 through April 2019 the defendants were involved in a criminal enterprise that was responsible for manufacturing and distributing narcotics in New Jersey, New York and thru the Dark Web, authorities said.

The arrests and charges on April 3 followed an extensive investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the United States Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Service, the South Brunswick Police Department, and the New Jersey Division of Taxation, Office of Criminal Investigations, authorities said.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information may call Sergeant Craig Marchak of Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4505.

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