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Angelo and David Esposito were arrested and charged with drugs and weapons offenses after a raid of Nino's Trattoria and Pizzeria on Sept. 13.

(Mercer County Prosecutor's Office)

The staff and owners of Nino's Trattoria and Pizzeria (L to R) - The Esposito family - Mario, Angelo, Steve, Pamela and Dave Esposito in their new restaurant on the Burnswick Circle in Lawrence Twp., NJ. Wednesday, September 29, 2004. (Times staff/Kerry DeVaul)

LAWRENCE — A family-owned pizzeria on Lawrence Road was raided by the Mercer County Special Investigations Unit after several complaints were made about drugs being sold there, the prosecutor's office said.

Officers raided Nino’s Trattoria & Pizzeria on Sept. 13 after a three-month investigation. Inside, they found 11 grams of powder cocaine packaged for distribution, a loaded semi-automatic handgun and $978 in cash, the prosecutor's office said in a news release.

One of the proprietors, Angelo Esposito, 49, was arrested at the restaurant and his 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe was seized as drug proceeds.

Investigators searched his Nalbone Court home in Hamilton and found two grams of powder cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale, packaging materials, two shotguns, a rifle and $7,807 in cash, the prosecutor's office said.

Esposito's wife, Pamela Nalbone-Esposito, 43, was arrested at the home.

Officers also searched the Cranbrook Road home of Esposito's brother, David Esposito, 41, and arrested him there. They found 17 grams of powder cocaine packaged for distribution, $11,975 in cash, a digital scale and packaging materials, the office said.

Officers found three grams of powder cocaine in Esposito's 2001 BMW, the release said. The BMW and his Hummer H2 were seized as drug proceeds.

The cocaine seized at the three locations was worth about $3,000, the prosecutor's office said.

Angelo Esposito was charged with possession of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm while committing a narcotics offense, possession of a defaced firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on $75,000 bail.

David Esposito was charged with possession of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on $100,000 bail.

Pamela Nalbone-Esposito was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. She was released on a summons pending court proceedings.

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