'Operation Transformer': Dozens arrested in Middlesex, Somerset county heroin trafficking bust

Suzanne Russell | Bridgewater Courier News

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SOMERVILLE – Authorities on Wednesday announced that more than two dozen people have been arrested following a four-month investigation into the distribution of heroin in Somerset and Middlesex counties.

Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office acting Prosecutor Christopher L. C. Kuberiet, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office acting Chief of County Detectives Paul Miller, New Brunswick Police Department Director Anthony Caputo and Bound Brook Police Department Chief Vito Bet announced in a release the arrests of the following:

Ibe Allah, 53, of North Brunswick, charged with leader of narcotics trafficking network, promotion of organized street crime, maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility – first-degree crimes; conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), and possession with intent to distribute CDS (cocaine) – second degree-crimes.

Clifford Christian, aka "Cee,” 55, of New Brunswick, charged with possession with the intent to distribute CDS (heroin), conspiracy – second-degree crimes; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Daniel Brown, aka "Twin," 39, of Spotswood, charged with leader of a narcotics trafficking network, promotion of organized street crime, maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility and robbery – first-degree crimes; burglary, conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), possession with intent to distribute CDS (cocaine) – second-degree crimes; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Robert Byrom, aka "Has," 62 of New Brunswick, charged with possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), and conspiracy – second-degree crimes; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Christine Peritore, 45, of Edison, charged with maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility – first-degree crime; endangering the welfare of a child, possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), conspiracy – second-degree crimes; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Shaday Gordon, 33, of Highland Park, charged with maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility – first-degree crime; endangering the welfare of a child, possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), and conspiracy – second-degree crimes.

Hassan Cooper, 31, of New Brunswick, charged with maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, robbery – first-degree crimes; burglary, possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), conspiracy – second-degree crimes; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Melanie Giachetti, 46, of Edison, charged with maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility – first-degree crime; endangering the welfare of a child, possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin), conspiracy – second-degree crime; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Jermaine L. Robinson Jr., 26, of the Somerset section of Franklin, charged with possession of a weapon by certain persons and unlawful possession of a weapon – second degree crimes.

Laquan Hill, 30, of New Brunswick, charged with possession with intent to distribute CDS (cocaine) and conspiracy – second-degree crimes.

Darrell Williams, 42, of New Brunswick, charged with possession with intent to distribute CDS (cocaine) and conspiracy – second-degree crimes.

Dwight Beckett, 56, of the Somerset section of Franklin, charged with possession of hollow-point bullets – fourth-degree crime; and possession of drug paraphernalia – disorderly persons offense.

Sanford James, 48, of New Brunswick, charged with possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin) and conspiracy – second-degree crimes.

READ: 19 alleged child sex predators arrested in Somerset County undercover sting investigation

According to the release, investigators on Oct. 23 executed eight Superior Court-issued search warrants at the residences of Brown, Cooper, Gordon, James, Peritore and Giachetti that resulted in the seizure of approximately 70 grams of raw heroin, about 2,500 bags of packaged heroin, about 1 ounce of cocaine, a Charter Arms .38 caliber handgun, $5,050 in cash and numerous items utilized for drug manufacturing, including empty wax folds, ink pads, various brands of stampers utilized to identify heroin, sifters, scales, packaging material, rubber bands and cutting agents.

The heroin seized has an estimated street value of $30,000, and the cocaine seized has an estimated street value of about $1,300.

Cooper and Brown also were charged with armed robbery, a first-degree crime, for their alleged roles in an Oct. 3 home invasion in Plainfield.

On Oct. 29, the following individuals were arrested on a conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance charge, a third-degree crime:

Hazel Johnson, 40, of North Brunswick, who also was charged with possession with intent to distribute CDS (heroin) – third-degree crime

Derek Andrews, 55, of New Brunswick

Doussou Karibuhoye-Said, 25, of Plainsboro

Irving Figueroa, 31, of New Brunswick

Joseph Langone, 48, of Spotswood

Jose Medero-Lopez, 50, of New Brunswick

Jose Cotto, 49, of New Brunswick

Omar Narvaez-Mata, 30, of Linden

Thomas Newsom, 66, of the Somerset section of Franklin

Angel Oquendo, 56, of New Brunswick

Lemont Pringle, 44, of Sayreville

Douglas Stephens, 64, of Plainsboro

The following individuals were charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance but have not been arrested as investigators continue to search for them:

Angel Pena, 69, of the Somerset section of Franklin

Timothy Glover, 50, of the Somerset section of Franklin

Travis Best, 51, of New Brunswick

Robert Friedman, 55, of the Somerset section of Franklin.

Robertson praised the cooperation of the Somerset County SWAT Team, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit, the Middlesex County SWAT Team, the New Brunswick Police Department Narcotics Unit, the Edison Police Department Narcotic Unit, the Plainfield Police Department Detective Bureau and the Bound Brook Police Department K-9 Unit.

The stamps seized included Transformers, Major League Baseball, Jumpman, Elmo with Love, Tango and Cash, Tiger Woods, Kill Bill, Joy & Pain, Dope Dick, Block Buster, and Cadillac. Any agency requesting further information regarding the seized stamps is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908- 231-7100 and request to speak with Detectives John Dugan or John Tuchmatulin.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Unit at 908-231-7100 or use the STOPit app.

Anonymous information can also be provided via the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 888-577-TIPS (8477) All STOPit reports and Crime Stoppers’ tips will be kept confidential.

Suzanne Russell covers crime, courts, and other forms of mayhem from throughout the Central Jersey area for the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. Contact her at srussell@gannettnj.com.