9 Indicted For Running Major Cocaine Ring In Paterson

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Nine members of a major cocaine supply ring in Paterson were indicted Tuesday, authorities announced.

The indictments are the result of an eight-month investigation by state and county law enforcement officials called Operation Stillwater, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced.

Investigators seized eight kilos of cocaine, 82 pills containing fentanyl, three handguns, a small amount of heroin and more than $76,000 in cash.

A state Grand Jury indicted the following people with second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Eight of the nine also face various first-degree drug-related charges, Grewal said in a news release.

The following Paterson residents were charged with promoting organized street crime, a first-degree charge that carried a 15- to 30-year state prison sentence:

• Jose Encarnacion, 35, allegedly, was the primary supplier. He allegedly got cocaine in New York City and supplied it to those in the network.
• Adrian Mena-Acevedo, 25, allegedly got large amounts of cocaine from Encarnacion, which he distributed to other suppliers, Grewal said.
• Luis Peguero-Nin, 27, also allegedly got large amounts of cocaine from Encarnacion, which he distributed to another supplier and street-level dealers.

Juan Ruiz-Montano, 37, of Bronx, New York, allegedly worked with Encarnacion to distribute the cocaine. He was arrested in December after his SUV was stopped after he left Encarnacion's apartment. Investigators found six kilos of cocaine, a scale and $4,500 in a hidden compartment in the vehicle, Grewal said.

Jeffrey Jaquez, 27, of Passaic, allegedly received cocaine from Peguero-Nin. Jaquez faces several first-degree counts of drug distribution and possession with intent to distribute.

Emily Aracena-Freijomil, 24, and Juan Duran, 23, both of Paterson, allegedly worked for Mena-Acevedo. They allegedly packaged cocaine and conducted drug transactions. Mena-Acevedo and Aracena-Freijomil lived together on 20th Avenue in Paterson.

Two people allegedly worked for Peguero-Nin, Chamil Polanco, 24, of Paterson and another name nicknamed "Gingo." The three allegedly cut and packaged narcotics at an apartment they shared.

Investigators searched the apartment in December and found three handguns, an illegal large-capacity magazine, hollow point bullets, other ammunition, a small quantity of cocaine, 82 pills containing fentanyl, and heroin in various stages of packaging, Grewal said.

“By dismantling this supply network and locking up its members, we cut off a major source of cocaine for drug dealers in and around New Jersey’s third-largest city,” Grewal said. “Rather than just locking up street-level dealers or low-level members of this network, we cut deep into the supply line, which is the best way to stop the flow of these destructive drugs into our communities. We also seized evidence that defendants were dealing heroin and the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.”

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Photos: Jose Encarnacion, 35; Adrian Mena-Acevedo, 25; Luis Peguero-Nin, 27; Jeffrey Jaquez, 27; Juan Ruiz-Montano, 37; Emily Aracena-Freijomil, 24; Juan Duran, 23; Chamil Polanco, 24/New Jersey Attorney General's Office