3 Newark men face drug-related charges after cocaine seizures
Posted by packerma March 03, 2008 19:09PM
Three Newark men, including an alleged illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, have been arrested and large quantities of cocaine seized after separate motor vehicle stops in Essex County on the same night, authorities said today.

The defendants were apprehended Thursday night in Bloomfield and Newark by members of the Essex County Prosecutor's Narcotics Task Force, local police and federal immigration authorities.

Angel Nunez, 34, was arrested in a Ford Expedition at Watchung and Broughton avenues in Bloomfield at around 6:30 p.m., after detectives developed a lead he was carrying a large amount of drugs.

"The information was he was on his way to sell," said Thomas Fennelly, the Essex County assistant prosecutor who heads the task force.

Detectives said they recovered 285 grams of cocaine, 100 grams of marijuana, some Ecstasy pills and $5,800 in cash from the vehicle. Investigators later went to Nunez's apartment on Hecker Street and found 2.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, 94 grams of marijuana, hundreds of Ecstasy pills, $25,000 in cash and a loaded 9 mm handgun, police said.

Nunez was charged with three counts of drug possession, three counts of possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and two weapons offenses. His bail was set at $200,000, and he is scheduled to have his initial court appearance in Newark Tuesday morning, Fennelly said.

Police found out after his arrest that Nunez was employed by Continental Airlines and worked at Newark Liberty International Airport, the prosecutor confirmed.

Ysidro Torres, 25, and Rafael Sanchez-Rosario, 36, the suspected illegal immigrant, were arrested four hours later at Highland and Elwood Avenues in Newark.

The two were seized in separate cars, Fennelly said. He added Torres was taken into custody as he got out of his Acura Legend with two kilograms of suspected cocaine.

He was charged with conspiracy, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park and resisting arrest. Torres was taken to the Essex County Jail in Newark, where he has been held on $1 million bail. Sanchez-Rosario, who was charged with conspiracy, had his bail set at $750,000.
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