South Jersey drug network busted, officials say

BRIDGETON – Sixteen men and women were arrested Friday in a sweep across Cumberland County that netted various drugs worth about $240,000 as well as $70,000 in cash, the county Prosecutor’s Office announced.

County First Assistant Prosecutor Harold Shapiro said the sweep captured 1.5 kilograms of heroin, 27 ounces of cocaine, about 1 ounce of crack cocaine, and about 1 kilogram of marijuana. A shotgun, rifles and handguns also were seized.

A Commercial Township man, 22-year-old Jason Sanchez of Doris Drive, was charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network.

The investigation was conducted with cooperation among Bridgeton, Vineland and Millville police; the Gloucester, Salem and Cape May prosecutor's offices; New Jersey State Parole Board; the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department; the federal Drug Enforcement Administration; and New Jersey State Police.

Sanchez also was charged with conspiracy to possess a dangerous controlled substance, possess a CDS with intent to distribute, and distribute a CDS more than 5 ounces.

He was charged on another complaint with conspiracy to possess CDS, possess a CDS with intent to distribute, and distribute a CDS more than 1 ounce in weight but less than 5 pounds.

His bail was set at $225,000.

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The other defendants, their charges, and bails, are as follows.

• Nicole Castro, 25, Oak Street, Bridgeton: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute, distribute a CDS over 5 ounces, and maintaining or operating a CDS production facility. Bail: $250,000
• William Jackson, 35, of Edgewood Avenue, Millville: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; distribute a CDS over 5 ounces; possession of a CDS; and another count of possession of a CDS with intent to distribute over 5 ounces. Jackson also was charged with 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 CDS offense; and possession of a weapon by certain person. Bail: $250,000
• Thomas Jackson, 29, of South Burlington Road, Fairfield: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $150,000
• Carlos Thomas, 33, South 7th Street, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Additionally, Thomas was charged with conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS more than 1 ounce but less than 5 pounds. Bail: $150,000
• Lexus Sanchez, 23, of West Elmer Street, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $100,000
• David Lewis, 54, of Dandelion Road, Commercial: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $75,000
• Jessica Gonzalez, 25, of Oak Street, Bridgeton: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $75,000
• Lewis Brailsford, 32, of Leesburg: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possession CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $150,000
• Jonathan Gonzalez, 22, of West Elmer Street, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $125,000
• Kyle Blackwell, 30, of East Pear Street, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $150,000
• Rasheem Roberts, 31, of West Almond Street, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $150,000
• Rasheem Cradle, 33, of Nottingham Drive, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $75,000
• Christian Maldonado, 34, of Axtell Avenue, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess of a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS in the amount of more than 1 ounce but less than 5 pounds. Bail: $15,000
• Anthony Figueroa, 25, of Wood Street, Vineland: Conspiracy to possess a CDS; possess a CDS with the intent to distribute; and distribute a CDS over 5 ounces. Bail: $125,000
• Larry Bell Jr., 34, of Chestnut Avenue, Vineland: Possession of a CDS; possession of a CDS with the intent to distribute over 5 ounces; and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Bail: $250,000

Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com