Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that the leader of a Paterson-based opioid mill was sentenced to prison today for maintaining a controlled dangerous substance facility.
He was charged in an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and Paterson Police Department, during which over 17,000 wax folds of heroin and fentanyl were seized in the takedown.
Rafael Brito, aka “Chiquito,” 35, of Paterson, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on Thursday by Superior Court Judge Marilyn C. Clark in Passaic County. Brito pleaded guilty to first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance facility on November 30, 2021.
Deputy Attorney General Anna Gildea prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Cynthia Vazquez, Bureau Chief Lauren Scarpa Yfantis, and DCJ Deputy Director Annmarie Taggart.
“Let this sentence serve as a warning for drug traffickers who bring these dangerous substances into our communities,” said Acting Attorney General Platkin.
“We will continue to disrupt the opioid market in cities throughout New Jersey through collaborative investigations with local police and our law enforcement partners across the state.”
“Stopping criminals who fuel the supply of opioids in New Jersey’s communities is a top priority for the Division of Criminal Justice,” said Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice.
“We are committed to investigating and prosecuting narcotics traffickers who profit from the suffering and struggling of our residents.”
“We appreciate the cooperation of our state partners to make Paterson safer and improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim M. Baycora.
“The sum is definitely greater than the parts when it comes to this kind of teamwork among law enforcement agencies to stop drug trafficking.
We will continue to work together to protect our city and fight the opioid epidemic.”
Brito and his girlfriend, Rosanny Prado, 38, of Paterson, were arrested on March 3, 2020, at their residence in the first block of East 36th Street in Paterson.
While executing a search warrant at the home, detectives discovered an active opioid mill in the basement. They seized over 17,000 wax folds of suspected heroin and fentanyl along with milling equipment and packaging materials.
The residence was equipped with numerous surveillance cameras connected to two video monitors set up over the tables in the basement where the drugs were processed.
Ink stamps were seized bearing brand names linked to 10 fatal and eight non-fatal overdoses: “Empire” (4 fatal, five non-fatal overdoses); “Panda” (3 fatal overdoses); “100%” (2 fatal overdoses); “777” (1 fatal overdose); “Bat” (1 non-fatal overdose); “BEE” (1 non-fatal overdose); “Call Me” (1 non-fatal overdose).
Prado pleaded guilty to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child on November 30, 2021, and was admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention program.