Crime & Safety

Bloods Street Gang Members, Union County Men Arrested In Drug Trafficking Ring

The men are members and associates of, the Sex, Money, Murder criminal street gang, which is a set of the Bloods street gang: U.S. Attorney.

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Nine people, including four men from Union County, have been charged for their respective roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in Union County and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.

Jerry Ross, 46, of Somerset; Joseph Ross, 42, of Rahway; Luis Delvalle, 41, Pernell White, 36, and Jaquay Bell, 35, all of Piscataway; Andre Gaddy, 31, of North Plainfield; Jacob Douglas, 42, Tarrell Strond, 42, and Tayeire Thomas, 26, all of Plainfield; are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

The men are all members and associates of a drug trafficking organization that operated an open-air narcotics market in and around the area of West 3rd Street in Plainfield, according to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The organization is affiliated with, and the defendants are members and associates of, the Sex, Money, Murder criminal street gang, which is a set of the Bloods street gang, said Sellinger.

For several months, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance of the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions related to drug trafficking between and among the members or the conspiracy.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Six of the men are scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. Douglas, White, and Thomas remain at large.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.