West Orange Meth Bust Update: Feds Take Up Case, Alter Charges

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Federal prosecutors have taken up a high-profile drug case out of West Orange involving an alleged $1 million worth of methamphetamine.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey announced it has taken over the case from state authorities, who subsequently dropped their own charges against the two residents of the Lorelei Road home, Brian Cheda-Hackembruch, 23, and Eduardo Martinez, 39.

It meant a significant change for Martinez, who was originally charged with the same criminal offenses as Cheda-Hackembruch, including possession of CDS with intent to distribute, maintaining a drug manufacturing facility and conspiracy to violate New Jersey's narcotics laws.

• See related article: Cops Find $1M In Meth At West Orange Home, 2 Arrested

According to the federal criminal complaint, Cheda-Hackembruch was the main target of the police investigation. During a raid of the home – which turned up more than 4,000 grams of meth – police also searched Martinez’s bedroom, finding a safe with 38 grams of meth inside.

Martinez now faces a single charge of possession of methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if he’s found guilty.

That’s not the case for Cheda-Hackembruch, who faces federal charges of conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and maintaining a drug-involved premises.

According to prosecutors, the count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. The count of maintaining a drug-involved premises count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and a civil penalty up to $250,000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office released the following statement about the police raid:

“As part of an investigation beginning in May 2019, law enforcement officers observed multiple individuals coming and going from [the] residence in a manner consistent with narcotics activity. A search of the residence on July 29, discovered 4,322 grams of methamphetamine, 74 grams of marijuana, 96 fluid ounces of Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL) and bank statements suggesting that Cheda-Hackembruch’s bank account contained over $500,000. Law enforcement searched Martinez’s room and discovered an additional 38 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also located packaging materials, scales, and items consistent with methamphetamine processing.”

The Essex County Sheriff’s Office previously stated that a "wide assortment of narcotics paraphernalia" including butane torches, digital scales and plastic funnels was also found in the home, along with $3,840 in cash and four BB guns.

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