Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, Union County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Harvey Barnwell, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Paul Miller, United States Postal Inspection Service Newark Division Acting Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins, Plainfield Police DepartmentActing Police Director David Guarino, and Edison Police Department Chief of Police Thomas Bryan announced the arrests of Joselin Castillo, aka “Tragedy, 30, of Edison; Jonatan Gonzalez-Duran, aka “JB”, 28, of Plainfield, Joey Flores, 30, Plainfield, Anne Crowton, of Roselle Park, Katherin Ceballos, 22, of Edison, and Jennifer Rodriguez-Leonardo, 21, Plainfield, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Robertson stated the following defendantswere arrested following a five month investigation relative to the distribution of cocaine in the Somerset, Union, and Middlesex County area.
These defendants were arrested are charged on June 4, 2021 with the following offenses:
1. Joselin Castillo – Possession of CDS (cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute (1st degree), Leader of a CDS Trafficking Network (1st degree), Maintaining a CDS Production Facility (1st degree), Attempt to Distribute CDS ( 2nd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (2nd degree), Possession of an Assault Firearm (2nd degree), Possession of a Firearm while Committing a CDS Offense (2nd degree), Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (2nd degree), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2nd degree), Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine (4th degree), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons).
2. Jonatan Gonzalez-Duran - Distribution of CDS (cocaine 1st degree), Possession of CDS (cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute (1st degree), Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (2nd degree), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia(Disorderly Persons).
3. Joey Flores – Distribution of CDS (cocaine 2nddegree), Attempt to Distribute CDS (2nd degree), and Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (2nd degree).
4. Anne Crowton – Attempt to Possess CDS (2nddegree), and Conspiracy to Possess CDS (2nd degree).
5. Katherin Ceballos - Possession of CDS (cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute (1st degree), Maintaining a CDS Production Facility (1st degree), Attempt to Distribute (2nd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (2nd degree), Possession of an Assault Firearm (2nd degree), Possession of a Firearm while Committing a CDS Offense (2nd degree), Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (2nd degree), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2nd degree), Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine (4th degree), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons).
6. Jennifer Rodriguez-Leonardo - Possession of CDS (cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute (1st degree), Maintaining a CDS Production Facility (1st degree), Possession of an Assault Firearm (2nd degree), Possession of a Firearm while Committing a CDS Offense (2nd degree), Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (2nd degree), Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine (4th degree), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons).
During the week of June 14, 2021 the following defendants were arrested and charged for Conspiracy and Attempt to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rddegree):
1. Mohammed Adwan, age 54, Grant Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ.
2. Kyle Battle, age 31, Oxford Avenue, Plainfield, NJ.
3. Dave Choppay, Jr., age 55, New Center Road, Hillsborough, NJ.
4. Jose Concepcion, Jr., age 47, Somerset Street, North Plainfield, NJ.
5. Andrew Della-Ventura, age 63, North Avenue, Dunellen, NJ.
6. Joseph Gonzalez, age 43, West 6th Street, Plainfield, NJ.
7. Heather Hein, age 51, Boulder Hill Road, Lebanon, NJ.
8. Darguin Linares, age 50, Camman Place, Somerville, NJ.
9. Mahmoud Mansy, age 61, South Washington Avenue, Dunellen, NJ.
10. Juan Menjivar-Rivera, age 43, Sumner Avenue, Plainfield, NJ.
11. Charles Norway, age 63, Haran Avenue, Manville, NJ.
12. Maryann Norway, age 61, Windrew Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ.
13. Tracey Pearson, age 60, New Center Road, Hillsborough, NJ.
14. Julio Perdomo, age 30, Garfield Avenue, Plainfield, NJ.
15. Kenneth Samuels, age 59, East 5th Street, Plainfield, NJ.
16. Michael Wade-Saunders, age 54, Mitchell Avenue, Piscataway, NJ.
17. Hatem Shata, age 55, Diane Court, New Providence, NJ.
18. Major Smith, age 67, Russell Place, Plainfield, NJ.
19. Scott Taylor, age 60, Lafayette Place, Plainfield, NJ.
20. Alfredo Vargas-Gonzalez, age 50, West Front Street, Plainfield, NJ.
21. Saleem White, age 35, Forest Drive, Piscataway, NJ.
The following defendants were charged with Conspiracy and Attempt to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree) and are wanted by authorities:
1. Francisco Fordham, age 59, 11th Street, Piscataway, NJ.
2. Miguel Garcia, age 40, Plainfield Avenue, Plainfield, NJ.
3. Devin Jones, age 45, East 2nd Street, Plainfield, NJ.
4. Victor Tejada-Urena, age 42, Westervelt Avenue, Plainfield, NJ.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that as a result of this comprehensive investigation authorities executed eight (8)Superior Court Search Warrants which included the residences of defendants Joselin Castillo, Jonatan Gonzalez-Duran, and Anne Crowton.
The results of the search warrants culminated in the seizure of approximately 6.5 kilograms (6,500 grams) of cocaine, a 9mm polymer 80 handgun equipped with a thirty round extended magazine,an AR-15 rifle equipped with a high capacity thirty round magazine, one hundred ninety three thousand five hundred thirty six dollars and twenty five cents ($193,536.25) in U.S. currency, and numerous items utilized for drug manufacturing to include scales, packaging material, narcotics cutting agent, one money counter, and two separate kilogram press devices.
The cocaine seized has an estimated street value offive hundred fifty nine thousand dollars ($559,000.00).