Narcotics Task Force Seizes $31,000 in Cocaine and Heroin
The Mercer County Narcotics Task Force concluded a five-month investigation this week with three arrests and the seizure of $31,000 in drugs.
The investigation into cocaine distribution by Larry Stewart AKA “Get Right” of Trenton began in January 2017. Between January and May 2017, undercover purchases of cocaine were made and countless hours of surveillance were conducted. Officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police Canine Unit, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Hamilton and Trenton police, under the command of the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, assisted with the investigation.
On Wednesday, May 24, the investigation concluded with the execution of search warrants for multiple locations and vehicles. Stewart was using stash houses and other individuals to store his cocaine in an effort to shield himself from law enforcement. He also used delivery people during the course of the investigation. Stewart was arrested in a parking lot on South Broad Street during a drug transaction. One hundred grams of powder cocaine were seized along with $729 in cash from Stewart. Juanita Brooks was observed by officers exiting a stash location on Genesee Street and driving directly to Stewart just prior to the transaction. She was taken into custody by officers after returning to her home.
A search of the Genesee Street residence revealed 200 grams of crack cocaine and 100 grams of powder cocaine. A search of another stash location on Monmouth Street revealed 60 bricks of heroin. More than $9,000 in cash was located at a home in Hamilton and an additional 40 grams of powder cocaine were discovered in a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier.
In total, approximately 200 grams of crack cocaine were seized with an estimated street value of $10,000. The total amount of powder cocaine seized was approximately 240 grams with an estimated street value of $12,000. The estimated street value of the seized heroin is $9,000. Cash totaling $9,789 was also seized. A 2014 Mercedes Benz and a 2009 Dodge Ram were both seized as drug proceeds.
Stewart, age 32, of Monmouth Street, Trenton, is charged with multiple counts of controlled dangerous substance possession and distribution. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to have Stewart detained. Brooks, age 57, of Trenton, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and first-degree possession with the intent to distribute. Also arrested during the course of the search warrant executions was Jazzlin Porter, age 25, of Trenton. She is charged with two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count of possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.