The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office arrested more than a dozen people on Tuesday in connection with a Jersey City drug operation, including a Hoboken police officer, Hoboken fire battalion chief, a Hoboken Parking Utility employee, and a suspended Jersey City police officer.
Police believe the network allegedly distributed about $35,000 worth of cocaine per week. Law enforcement agents seized over 500 grams of cocaine and four firearms during the investigation.
According to First Assistant Prosecutor Guy Gregory, the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests and charges are expected shortly.
The city has suspended all three municipal employees involved in the arrest, according to Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
Three ringleaders, allegedly
The year-and-a-half long sting operation infiltrated a cocaine ring allegedly run out of the Jersey City restaurant Calle Luna, 356 Varick St., also known as the “D. Hernandez” restaurant.
Three men were identified as the alleged leaders: Anthony Velez, 37, Jersey City; Manuel Reyes, Jr., 31, Jersey City; and Felix Santiago III, 34, Hoboken.
Those three men are being prosecuted on federal charges by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The other 14 persons facing state charges are being prosecuted by the county.
Velez, Reyes, and Santiago were arrested on Sept. 22 and charged in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (500 grams and more).
Cops among arrested
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the other 14 individuals were arrested or issued criminal complaints in connection with the investigation.
Among those charged were Hoboken Fire Battalion Chief Henry Setkiewicz, 59, who lives in Jersey City; Hoboken Police Officer Ralph Gallo, 25, Hoboken; suspended Jersey City Police Officer Mark Medal, 52, Jersey City; and Hoboken Parking Utility employee Monica Thorpe, 42, Hoboken.
Officials said Setkiewicz and Medal are allegedly regular cocaine customers of the network.
Setkiewicz allegedly purchased the cocaine while he was on duty at a Hoboken firehouse, according to officials. However, he did not have cocaine in his possession at the time of his arrest.
Medal, a former International Boxing Federation light-middleweight boxing champion, was suspended from the force in March because of a positive drug test, according to a local daily newspaper.
Gallo was charged with official misconduct and computer-related criminal activity after he allegedly “ran a law enforcement license plate in a government database as a favor for one of the targets of the investigation,” according to officials.
Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said one of the alleged “kingpins” of the drug ring suspected he was being followed by undercover law enforcement agents and asked Gallo to check the license plate.
Gallo then allegedly informed the so-called “kingpin” that the car had a “restricted plate” meaning it was an undercover police vehicle, according to DeFazio.
“[Gallo] tipped off the drug dealer that he was in fact being surveilled by an undercover vehicle,” DeFazio said.
Thorpe was also charged with computer-related criminal activity in a similar scheme, DeFazio said.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.
Complete charges
● Nirav B. Lakhani, 25, Jersey City, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine of five ounces or more; first degree cocaine possession with intent to distribute; third degree possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, and second degree possession with intent to distribute cocaine while within 500 feet of public property. Bail was set at $400,000.
● Will Camacho, 18, Jersey City, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine (five ounces or more); first degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute (five ounces or more); third degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, and second degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public property. Bail was set at $350,000.
● Joseph Casiano Jr., 21, Hoboken, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine (five ounces or more) and heroin (less than one-half ounce). Bail was set at $150,000.
● Maria Mestre, 39, Jersey City, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine (five ounces or more). Bail was set at $125,000.
● Carlos Rivera, 19, Jersey City, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine (five ounces or more) and second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, a handgun. Bail was set at $150,000.
● Tulio C. Lopez, 51, Jersey City, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine (five ounces or more). Bail was set at $75,000.
● Carlos Burgos, 32, Jersey City, was charged with second degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine (five ounces or more). Bail was set at $200,000.
● Pedro J. Torres, 49, Jersey City, was charged with third degree conspiracy to possess cocaine. He was released on a summons complaint.
● Monica Thorpe, 42, Hoboken, was charged with third degree computer theft (computer criminal activity). She was released on a summons complaint.
● Mark Medal, 52, Jersey City, was charged with third degree conspiracy to possess cocaine. He was released on a summons complaint.
● Henry Setkiewicz, 59, Jersey City, was charged with third degree conspiracy to possess cocaine. He was released on a summons complaint.
● Alicia Orrego, 32, Jersey City, was charged with third degree conspiracy to possess cocaine. She was released on a summons complaint.
● Edward Bloncourt, 55, Secaucus, was charged with third degree conspiracy to possess cocaine. He was released on a summons complaint.
● Ralph F. Gallo, 25, Hoboken, was charged with second degree official misconduct and third degree computer theft (computer criminal activity). He was released on a summons complaint.
A grand jury will consider these and other charges during secret proceedings and indictments of the individuals may follow.
The first-degree state charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison and a $200,000 fine, while second-degree state charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree state charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
The investigation was initially launched by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Task Force, who partnered with both the Jersey City Police Department and N.J. Drug Enforcement Administration. – TJC