5 minute read
Opinion
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 The Observer | www.theobserver.com 5 Belleville man previously arrested on drug violations now socked with money laundering charges: BCPO
By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
A Belleville man who was arrested in connection to a fentanyl pill mill in East Rutherford and Mahwah — and whom we reported about last week — has been arrested again and further charged by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office with an additional crime — along with one of his previously uncharged associates, Prosecutor Mark Musella said late last week.
Raymond G. Ulloa, 30, of Carmer Avenue, Belleville,
Two Brooklyn men were arrested Aug. 9 near the parking lot of the Lyndhurst Stop & Shop on fraud and drug charges after an alert officer was drawn to their attention because of illegally tinted windows on the car they were in, Det. Lt. Vincent Auteri, the Lyndhurst PD’s public-information officer, said.
Mac Nestor, 22, and Zaren Cochrane, 23, were charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of a skimming device and possession of bank cards with intent to facilitate criminal activity.
Here’s how it all went down, according to Auteri.
At around 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9, Officer Michael Clifford came upon a BMW on Lewandowski Street near the Stop & Shop. The vehicle had tinted windows and a cracked windscreen, so Clifford stopped (seen in mugshot) and Tatiana DeLaCruz, 21, of Paterson Plank Road, North Bergen, were taken into custody Aug. 10 on charges of money laundering, the BCPO said. The arrests were the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the East Rutherford Police Department. On Aug. 5, 2020, detectives from the BCPO’s Narcotic Task Force and the East Rutherford Police Department began an investigation into a fentanyl mill in East Rutherford and Mahwah. the vehicle for both infractions.
After pulling the car over, he spoke to Cochrane, who was the driver, and Clifford says he detected the odor of both raw and burnt pot coming from the Beemer.
A computer check also revealed Cochrane’s driver’s lihad no proof of vehicle insurance. Additionally, Clifford says neither Cochrane nor Nestor could account for their trip to Lyndhurst from Brooklyn.
Later, Clifford conducted a search of the BMW, where he reportedly found marijuana, drug paraphernalia, an illegal credit-card skimmer and 25 stolen gift cards.
Both men were released on their own recognizance after booking, Auteri says, in accordance with New Jersey Bail Reform.
— Canessa
Law enforcement discovered Law enforcement discovered thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as Oxycodone and Percocet in an East Rutherford apartment and contraband related to the mill at a home in Mahwah. On Aug. 10, 2020, law enforcement learned an associate of Ulloa’s, DeLaCruz, was in possession of a vehicle belonging to Ulloa that was believed to be connected to the production and distribution facility, the prosecutor said.
Officers searched the vehicle and DeLaCruz’s North Bergen apartment pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant and seized approximately $175,000, Musella said.
After being arrested and booked, Ulloa, already out on bond, was released on his own recognizance, pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, on Aug. 26, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.
DeLaCruz was charged was also released on her own recognizance, pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, on the same day and at the same time as Ulloa.
The original arrested came after $1 million in pills — and a substantial amount of cash
LPD nabs 2 on fraud charges
cense was suspended — and he
— were seized.
Ken Davie “Your Family’s Lawyer”
• Matrimonial & Municipal Courts • Home and Business Sales • Wills and Estates •Labor and Criminal Law
Experience • Compassion • Results CIFELLi & DAVIE 334 Harrison Ave. • Harrison, NJ (973) 482-1180 or (800) 303-7716 Fax (973) 482-0223 kdavieesq@gmail.com
PUBLIC NOTICE
HUDSON COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
Amendments to Action Plans
Program Years (PY) 2015, PY 2016, PY 2017 and PY 2019 Reprogramming
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Pursuant to Federal regulations, the County of Hudson will hold a 30 day public comment period open to all residents, especially low-and moderate-income residents on Amendments to public hearing open to all residents, especially low-and moderate income residents on Amendments to PY 2015, PY 2016, PY 2017 and PY 2019 Action Plans on project activities and budget changes.
The purpose of the 30 day comment period will be to obtain from the public their views and comments on the proposed project activities and budget changes by the County of Hudson to Hudson County’s Action Plans for PY 2015, PY 2016, PY 2017 and PY 2019. Federal regulations require that Hudson County provide a 30 day public comment period for the Amendments for the PY 2015, PY 2016, PY 2017 and PY 2019 Action Plans. Citizens have 30 days from the date of this public notice to review the document and submit comments.
It is the County’s opinion that this constitutes substantial changes in its CDBG Program and requires compliance with 24 CFR Section 570.305.
HUDSON COUNTY CDBG REPROGRAMMING
Reprogram $7,557.91 from existing project The Waterfront Project-Wills for Low-Income Seniors (1-05C1-19) to existing project The Waterfront Project – Housing and Legal Advocacy (1-05U1-19).
Reprogram $67,170.53 from existing project Kearny- Chestnut Street Improvements (6-03K2-16) to new project Kearny Highland Avenue Roadway Improvements (6-03K3-16).
Reprogram $113,176.47 from existing project Kearny – Liberty and Boyd Street Improvements (6-03K1-17) to new project Kearny Highland Avenue Roadway Improvements (6-03K2-17).
Reprogram $75,500.00, from existing project Secaucus-Senior Center Renovations (8-05A1-15) to existing project Town of Secaucus - 6 th Street Improvements (8-03K1-15).
Reprogram $20,000.00 from existing project Secaucus-Senior Center Kitchen (8-05A1-17) to existing project Town of Secaucus - 6 th Street Improvements (8-03K1-17).
Persons wishing to comment on the Amendments to the PY 2015, PY 2016, PY 2017 and PY 2019 Action Plans can respond to during the thirty days comment period commencing from the date of the public notice. Interested citizens may contact the Division of Housing and Community Development at 830 Bergen Avenue, Suite 5B, Jersey City, NJ 07306 or call Heather Hanks, CDBG Program Manager, Hudson County Division of Housing and Community Development at (201)369-4520.
It is anticipated that formal action by the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders will take place at their regularly scheduled meeting on or about September 24, 2020. The amendments to the PY 2015, PY 2016, PY 2017 and PY 2019 Action Plans will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development upon conclusion of this process.
