Scott Carson, 33, of West Orange, was among the 14 people charged with drug offenses as part of "Operation Raw Deal."Somerset County Prosecutor's Office SOMERVILLE — A
seven-month investigation into the sale of narcotics in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania has led to drug charges against 14 people and the seizure
of more than $16,000 worth of heroin and a drug called “Molly,” the
Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced today.
Called “Operation Raw Deal,” the investigation centered on a
distribution network allegedly involving Scott Carson, 33, of West
Orange; Jakai Jones, 30, of Keyport; Andrea Lunetta, 26, of Sayreville;
and Semih Demir, 24, of Berkeley Heights, the prosecutor’s office said
in a news release.
Those four individuals are accused of selling MDMA and/or heroin to
numerous people in Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Monmouth and Essex
counties in New Jersey and in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the
prosecutor’s office said.
The investigation began in August when detectives, assigned to the
Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task
Force, learned that Jones was selling “Molly” in Somerset County, the
prosecutor’s office said.
An undercover detective then met with Jones numerous times in
Franklin Township and purchased the drug from him, the prosecutor’s
office said. Detectives determined that Jones’ supplier was Lunetta, and
that Lunetta was being supplied with drugs by Carson, the prosecutor’s
office said.
On Sunday, task force members, along with members of other law
enforcement agencies, executed search warrants on the residences and
vehicles belonging to Carson, Lunetta, Jones and Demir, the prosecutor’s
office said.
In a search of Carson and his residence, authorities found about one
ounce of heroin; 40 vials of cocaine; a 9mm handgun; a .40-caliber
handgun; a .22-caliber assault rifle; and various drug paraphernalia,
the prosecutor’s office said.
Carson’s children were present in the home with the narcotics and firearms, a court affidavit states.
The total amount of heroin seized in the investigation has an
estimated street value of $7,500 and the total amount of “Molly” seized
has an estimated value of $9,112, the prosecutor’s office said.
In addition to those four defendants, authorities charged Samantha
Simonson, 18, of Keansburg, and Antonio Rivera, 28, of Perth Amboy, with
making arrangements to sell narcotics during the investigation.
For buying heroin and other narcotics during the investigation,
authorities charged: Daniel Amadio, 39, of Keyport; Christen Reinglas,
23, of Aberdeen; Zachary Robbins, 27, of Summit; and the following West
Orange residents, Elijah Duplessis, 23; Romeo Vergara, 26; Helena
Freeman, 37; Chris Gamba, 23; and Jessie Casanovas, 30.
