NEWARK, N.J. — Nine people were charged for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine in Union County and elsewhere following a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark in coordination with local law enforcement partners.
Jerry Ross, 46, of Somerset; Joseph Ross, 42, of Rahway; Luis Delvalle, 41; Pernell White, 36, and Jaquay Bell, 35, both of Piscataway; Andre Gaddy, 31, of North Plainfield; and Jacob Douglas, 42, Tarrell Strond, 42, and Tayeire Thomas, 26, all of Plainfield, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. Six of the defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark. Douglas, White and Thomas remain at large.
“I’m proud of the incredible work we achieved with our partner agencies and prosecutors in this investigation,” said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. “We are resolute in our strategy to dismantle drug trafficking organizations that degrade our New Jersey communities and endanger the health and safety of the American public.”
According to the investigation, the defendants are all members and associates of a drug trafficking organization that operated an open-air narcotics market in and around the area of West 3rd Street in Plainfield. The organization is affiliated with, and the defendants are members and associates of, the Sex, Money, Murder criminal street gang, which is a set of the Bloods street gang. For several months, law enforcement officials extensively surveilled the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions related to drug trafficking between and among the members or the conspiracy.
HSI Newark is thankful for its partnership with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Plainfield Police Department in the investigation leading to the charges. Officials also expressed gratitude for support from the New Jersey State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Perth Amboy Police Department and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.