Three Trenton Men Arrested on Drug and Weapons Charges After Long Investigation
Three Trenton men have been arrested following a traffic stop that led to the culmination of several months of surveillance and investigation of the men. On June 4, authorities announced that they had allegedly recovered approximately $30,000 worth of heroin, prescription drugs including promethazine, and marijuana after raiding four residences and arresting Kenneth Veal, 26, Ricardo Moise, 26, and Troy Singletary, 52. The men are also being charged with weapons offenses, as multiple stolen weapons were also allegedly found in the raids.
Heroin Possession Laws in NJ
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10, if the men are convicted or plead guilty to possession of heroin, a third-degree crime, they could be subject to serious penalties of up to 5 years in jail, a fine of up to $35,000, and a mandatory 6 month suspension of his driver’s license. The penalties for this possession charge would be harsh even for small amounts of heroin, but for charges involving intent to distribute heroin, penalties escalate with the amount of heroin at issue. Additional penalties also apply for intent to distribute heroin under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5. If the amount of heroin at issue, allegedly about 60 bricks or more, is greater than one half ounce, the men could be charged with a second-degree crime carrying penalties that include 5-10 years of jail time and fines of up to $75,000, and if the amount was greater than five ounces, the offense becomes a first-degree crime and carries penalties including 10-20 years of jail time and a fine of up to $500,000.
Trenton NJ Marijuana Possession Penalties
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-2, the men will be facing additional penalties for possession of marijuana. Since the amount of alleged marijuana seized was approximately 6 ounces, which exceeds the statutory threshold of 50 grams, this offense will be classified as a felony, carrying penalties of up to 18 months in jail and a $25,000 fine.
N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 dictates yet more penalties for the possession of prescription drugs, which could be considered a crime of the third or fourth degree, with penalties including a fine of up to $15,000 or even $35,000, depending on the classification of the drug seized. Other penalties for this offense could include probation, jail time of up to five years.
Moise was also charged with weapons offenses, which could include charges for carrying a handgun without obtaining a permit under 2C:39-5(b), as well as potential charges for receiving stolen property under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7.