Cumberland County authorities arrested 16 people, seized $242,000 in drugs and seized firearms.
South Jersey law enforcement worked together to break up a drug trafficking ring in Cumberland County -- arresting 16 people and seizing $242,000 in drugs.
The arrests took place on Feb. 5. Authorities seized one-and-a-half kilograms of heroin, 27 ounces of cocaine, an ounce of crack cocaine and a kilogram of marijuana.
Authorities also seized numerous firearms, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, including a shotgun, rifles and handguns.
The following people were charged and held in the Cumberland County Jail:
- Jason Sanchez, 22, of Doris Drive, in Commercial Township, was charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network, conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $225,000 bail.
- Nicole Castro, 25, of Oak Street, in Bridgeton, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility. She was held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
- William Jackson, 35, of Edgewood Avenue, in Millville, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of an assault firearm, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a weapon while committing a controlled dangerous substance offence and possession of a weapon by a certain person. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
- Thomas Jackson, 29, of South Burlington Road, in Fairfield Township, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
- Carlos Thomas, 33, of South 7th Street in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
- Lexus Sanchez, 23, of West Elmer Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. She was held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
- David Lewis, 54, of Dandelion Road, in Commercial Township, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $75,000 bail.
- Jessica Gonzalez, 25, of Oak Street, in Bridgeton, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. She was held in lieu of $75,000 bail.
- Lewis Brailsford, 32, of Leesburg, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
- Jonathan Gonzalez, 22, of West Elmer Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $125,000 bail.
- Kyle Blackwell, 30, of East Pear Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
- Rasheem Roberts, 31, of West Almond Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
- Rasheem Cradle, 33, of Nottingham Drive, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $75,000 bail.
- Christian Maldonado, 34, of Axtell Avenue, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $15,000 bail.
- Anthony Figueroa, 25, of Wood Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $125,000 bail.
- Larry Bell Jr., 34, of Chestnut Avenue, in Vineland, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
The investigation was conducted by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, Bridgeton Police Department, Vineland Police Department, Millville Police Department, Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, Salem County Prosecutor's Office, Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Parole and New Jersey State Police.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.