Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Orange Police Director John E. Rappaport announced today that 25 individuals involved in street level drug distribution have been charged as part of a joint operation with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Orange Police Department.
The four-month long investigation dubbed “Operation Clean Sweep’’ ended this past weekend with the arrest of 16 of 25 defendants who have been charged with drug offenses. Nine remain at large, including one juvenile. Police are actively looking for these individuals.
The majority of cases involve the sale of narcotics to undercover agents. The operation yielded 121 Ziploc bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,300; 193 glassines of heroin with an estimated street value of $2,100; 74 pills estimated to be worth $1,200 and four grams of marijuana with an estimated street value of $100. In addition, three handguns and $5,333 in cash was recovered.
The Essex County Sheriff and the Essex County Department of Corrections assisted in the Operation.
Orange Police Director Rappaport said, “In this final effort, twenty-five subjects have been charged with various weapons and narcotics violations as one part of a combined effort of the Orange Police Department Vice Squad and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office to stem the spike in crime, which started in August of 2011. During this weekend’s roundup, sixteen individuals were taken into custody.’’
“We thank Ms. Carolyn A. Murray, Acting Essex County Prosecutor, and Chief Anthony Ambrose, Chief of Detectives, for their faith and confidence in our department. These types of efforts can only be accomplished through the input and cooperation of our community combined with the efforts of law enforcement,’’ Director Rappaport said.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Murray said. “We are pleased to participate in this joint initiative to curb street level drug dealing which has a corrosive impact on the quality of life of the community. We have been working collaboratively with Orange officials on public safety issues. This initiative is one example of that working relationship.’’
“Given the shrinking resources available to law enforcement agencies at all levels, we believe we have to pool are resources and work together to fight crime,’’ she added.
If convicted, most of the defendants face a minimum of three years in New Jersey State Prison, Acting Prosecutor Murray said.
Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., said, “The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Orange Police Department have struck a major blow against street distribution of drugs in Orange. Operation Clean Sweep is another example of the results achieved by Police Director Rappaport through joint law enforcement operations and through restoring the confidence of county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in the integrity of the Orange Police Department.’’
The following defendants were arrested:
Gary Mayfield, 34, of Orange
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Quadre Roberts, 20, of Newark, NJ
Charges: Eluding Police
Saladine Johnson, 38, of Tuckerton, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Ben Sumner, 39, of Newark, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Jason Patterson, 39, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS and Conspiracy
Rashon Richardson, 31, Newark, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Kawan Johnson, 38, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS and Conspiracy
Dashon Woodson, 23, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility and Conspiracy
Victoria Brooks, 47, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility and Conspiracy
Ryshawn Daniels, 36, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Ahday Waller, 24, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility, Weapons Possession
Chris Cox, 19, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Tamika White, 33, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility and Conspiracy
Kaseem Valentine, 24, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Possession of CDS
Shareef Moore, 37, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession for Unlawful Purpose, Certain Persons not to Possess Weapons
Shamir Sutton, 25, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession for Unlawful Purpose
The following defendants remain at large:
Robert Wright, 24, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Malik Onque, 20, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility and Conspiracy
Shareef Mayfield, 31, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Terrance Brunson, 27, East Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility and Conspiracy
Wiley Mayfield, 25, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility and Conspiracy
Lamar Pender, 29, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Tyrone Rutledge, 30, Orange, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
Shaka Blake, 23, Newark, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
JUVENILE, Irvington, NJ
Charges: Distribution of CDS, Distribution w/in 1000 Ft of a School, and Distribution w/in 500 Ft of a Public Facility
