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~Courtesy of Somerset County Prosecutor's Office

SOMERVILLE - A 40-year-old Dunellen man, his 69-year-old mother and three others were arrested as part of a five-month investigation related to the distribution of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, oxycodone pills and firearms.

Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson on Wednesday announced the arrest of Robert Cardinal; his mother, Georgiann Cardinal, 69; Timothy Jenkins, also known as "TJ," 47, of Hillsborough; Leon Blue Jr., 52, of Dumont; and Michael Wayne, also known as "Low Rider Mike," 42, of South Bound Brook, as part of Operation Bird Cage.

As part of the investigation, police executed search warrants in Middlesex, Somerset and Bergen counties and recovered 1,322 grams of cocaine, 1,500 grams of methamphetamine, a pound of marijuana, 2,010 bags of heroin, 298 Oxycodone pills, six Roxycodone pills, 48 morphine pills, 15 Ecstasy pills, 247 Suboxone films, 294 unidentified pills, a hydraulic kilo-press and other drug manufacturing equipment.

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~Courtesy of Somerset County Prosecutor's Office

The cocaine seized has an estimated street value of $84,000, the methamphetamine has an estimated value of $255,000, the heroin has an estimated value of $14,070, the assorted pills have an estimated value of $12,735 and the Suboxone pills have an estimated value of $4,940, based on current trends, officials said.

Investigators also seized $98,159 in cash and 19 firearms, including nine handguns, four rifles, four shotguns and two assault weapons. Nine motor vehicles also were seized.

Robert Cardinal was charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network, promoting organized street crime, maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, all first-degree crimes, unlawful transfer or sale of an assault firearm, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, financial facilitation of criminal activity and conspiracy.

~Courtesy of Somerset County Prosecutor's Office

Jenkins was charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network, promoting organized street crime, both first-degree crimes, and conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, financial facilitation of criminal activity and conspiracy.

~Courtesy of Somerset County Prosecutor's Office

Blue was charged with promoting organized street crime, possession with the Intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, financial facilitation of criminal activity and conspiracy.

Wayne was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of an assault firearm, unlawful manufacture, transfer or sale of an assault firearm, transfer or sale of a large capacity magazine and conspiracy.

~Courtesy of Somerset County Prosecutor's Office

Georgiann Cardinal was charged with promoting organized street crime, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, financial facilitation of criminal activity and conspiracy.

Robertson said seven Superior Court search warrants were executed as part of the investigation including three in Somerset County, three in Middlesex County and one in Bergen County, including at the homes of Robert Cardinal and Georgiann Cardinal, Jenkins, Wayne and Blue.

The investigation, led by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, involved the assistance of the Dunellen, Hillsborough, Middlesex Borough, South Bound Brook and South Plainfield police departments as well as the New Jersey State Police, Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and Chief Postal Inspector Guy Cottrell.

Also arrested and charged were:

Anthony Alston, 38, of Elizabeth: promoting organized street crime, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, financial facilitation of criminal activity and conspiracy.

Eric Ward, 48, of South River: manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy.

Anthony Mastroserio, 31, of South Bound Brook: unlawful transfer or sale of an assault firearm, conspiracy, transfer or sale of a large-capacity magazine and conspiracy.

Kelly Smith, 52, of Hillsborough: receiving stolen property.

Robertson said arrested warrants have been filed charging the following people with offenses, but they have not been arrested.

Shawn Page, 46, of New York City: possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy.

Andres Nazario, 49, of Piscataway: possession of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy.

William Keithley, 47, of Orlando, Florida: unlawful transfer or sale of an assault firearm and conspiracy.

Robertson said the following individuals were all arrested and charged with conspiracy and attempt to possess controlled dangerous substances:

Alan Lisezewski, 35, of Piscataway; Daniel O’Brien, 53, of Piscataway; George Walling Jr., 27, of Union Beach; Antonio Esposito, 55, of South Plainfield; Arthur Kamenetsky, 33, of the Parlin section of Sayreville; Mark Hall, 33, of Middlesex; Maria Saltsides, 37, of Rahway; and Gerald Sullivan, 59, of Flagtown.

Robertson said that in addition to the previously mentioned departments, the success of the operation would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Somerset County, Middlesex County and Bergen County SWAT teams, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey HIDTA Group 3, Bound Brook Police Department K-9 Unit, Somerset County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office as well as their K-9 Unit, Houston (Texas) Police Department and Greenville (South Carolina) Police Department.