TRENTON - Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a father and son were arrested on narcotics and weapons charges in connection with the seizure of three-quarters of a pound of crystal methamphetamine and seven guns, including an assault rifle, from their home in Buena Vista, N.J.
Paul Deola, 61, of Buena Vista, N.J., and his son, Paul Deola IV, 29, were arrested on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) on the following charges:
Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (1st degree)
Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Drug Offense (2nd degree)
Possession of Methamphetamine (3rd degree)
Possession of Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine (4th degree)
Possession of Armor-Piercing Ammunition (4th degree)
Possession of Hollow-Point Bullets (4th degree)
They were arrested in an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau—Casino Operations Unit, the NJSP Crime Suppression South Unit, and the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. The NJSP Gangs & Organized Crime South Unit also assisted in the investigation.
The New Jersey State Police developed information that Deola, the father, was allegedly distributing crystal methamphetamine from his home on East Landis Avenue in Buena Vista.
Deola was arrested on July 10, when detectives stopped his pickup truck near his home to execute a search warrant and found he was in possession of a small quantity of methamphetamine.
The State Police subsequently executed a search warrant at his home, where they seized approximately 12 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, a small quantity of marijuana, an assault rifle, a loaded handgun, five shotguns, large capacity magazines, armor-piercing and hollow-point bullets, and $17,670 in cash.
The son, Deola IV, was arrested when he returned to the home a short time later. The two men are being held in jail pending detention hearings scheduled for tomorrow, July 16.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous and addictive drug that destroys lives,” said Attorney General Grewal “We are working collaboratively and proactively across all levels of law enforcement to target the drug dealers who profit by distributing their poison in our communities.”
“We will continue to work with the New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement partners to strike at the source of the drugs fueling addiction in our communities,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “By seizing drugs and guns and putting alleged drug dealers behind bars, we are making New Jersey safer.”
“Illegal firearms threaten the safety of our neighborhoods, and drugs like methamphetamine claim and ruin far too many lives,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police.
“We will continue to work with our partners to aggressively target narcotics suppliers in order to shut down distribution routes and remove illegal firearms from our communities.”
Deputy Attorney General Jamey Collidge is assigned to prosecute the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Lauren Scarpa Yfantis and Deputy Bureau Chief Erik Daab.
Detective Eugene Sigmund is the lead detective for the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau. Attorney General Grewal commended all of the members of the New Jersey State Police and Division of Criminal Justice who worked on the investigation.
The first-degree drug charge carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $300,000.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while the third-degree charge carries a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $35,000.
Fourth degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.