Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik and the DEA New Jersey Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dennis Mihalopoulos announced that as a result of a six month investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency into a heroin distribution operation that extended throughout the County of Passaic and into the Bronx, NY.
Authorities said five individuals were arrested and charged on November 13th with numerous drug distribution related offenses stemming from the investigation.
This investigation was assisted by members of the following police departments; Wayne, Clifton, Ringwood, Totowa, Bloomingdale, Elmwood Park, West Milford, North Haledon, Woodland Park, Passaic and the Manhattan Special Narcotics Prosecutor and has the following in custody and charged:
**Mr. Faustino E. Acosta-Jaquez, 33 of Paterson**
Possession of CDS, Heroin – crime of Third Degree
Possession of CDS, Heroin more than five ounces with intent to distribute – crime of First Degree
Possession of CDS, Heroin with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school– crime of Third Degree
Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Heroin more than five ounces – crime of Second Degree
Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility – a crime of the First Degree
**Mr. James R. Brown, 48, of Paterson**
Possession of CDS, Heroin– crime of Third Degree
Possession of CDS, Heroin more than one-half ounce but less than five ounces with intent to distribute– crime of Second Degree
Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Heroin more than five ounces – crime of Second Degree
**Mr. Tirrell Singletary, 27, of Paterson, NJ**
Possession of CDS, Heroin– crime of Third Degree
Possession of CDS, Heroin in excess of one half once but less than five ounces with intent to distribute– crime of Second Degree
Possession of CDS, Heroin with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school– crime of Third Degree
Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Heroin more than five ounces – crime of Second Degree
**Mr. Jamel Palmer, 28, of Paterson, NJ**
Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Heroin in excess of one-half ounce but less than five ounces – crime of Third Degree
**Leopoldo Abreu Evangelista, 60, of the Bronx, NY**
Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Heroin in excess of five ounces – crime of Second Degree
According to a statement released by the investigating agencies, in or about June 2017, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office received information that there was an individual distributing large amounts of heroin in the County of Passaic.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration launched an extensive six-month investigation into the activities of Mr. Faustino Acosta-Jaquez according to the statement.
As a result of the investigation and as of today’s date, approximately 337 grams of suspected heroin, estimated at a street value of 25,000 dollars, upwards of $9771 cash and two vehicles were seized.
The first-degree charges carry a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison upon conviction, the second-degree charges carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, while the third-degree charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
**A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.**