Hudson County officials say on Thursday, shortly after 6:30 p.m., members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force arrested two Jersey City men for the possession and distribution of heroin in Jersey City following an investigation.
NTF Officers arrested Mr. Ronaldo Mercedes, 24, and Mr. Rony Santana Reyes, 30, on charges including possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute heroin within 500 feet of public property.
Officials say Mercedes and Santana Reyes were arrested on Clinton Avenue in Jersey City after they were found to be in possession of a kilogram of heroin.
The street value of the heroin seized is approximately $85,000 according to police.
Mercedes has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of Public Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1, a second-degree crime; Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute a second-degree crime; and Resisting Arrest/Eluding in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2, a disorderly persons offense.
Santana Reyes has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of Public Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1, a second-degree crime; and Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5 and 2C:5-2, a second-degree crime. Santana Reyes was arrested without incident.
Following their arrests, the defendants were transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending their first appearance.
The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention of the defendants.
Their hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2019.
Prosecutor Suarez credited members of the Narcotics Task Force with the investigation and arrests.
The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).