By: Michelle McGuinness
NORTH HANOVER North Hanover police assisted in an investigation last week that led to the discovery of a stash of over 100 rifles, 50 handguns and a large amount of narcotics in the possession of former North Hanover Republican Party Chairman Frank Preto, according to Police Chief Mark Keubler.
Mr. Preto, 55, of Ivy Lane, was charged with several counts of illegal possession of weapons and drugs that he had at his home and illegally sold from two Mercer County businesses, Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said. Mr. Preto was also charged with conducting illegal gambling operations from one of the businesses, said Mr. Onofri.
Mr. Preto was the chairman of the local Republican Party about 15 years ago, according to North Hanover Mayor Lou DeLorenzo, who is the current Republican Party chairman.
Mr. Onofri said Mr. Preto was charged on July 11, the same day search warrants were executed at his home and two businesses the Player’s Club Pool Hall in Ewing and the Community Search and Abstract business in Hamilton.
Chief Keubler said North Hanover police started a narcotics investigation on June 15 that eventually led them to Ewing.
He said the investigation was still in the early stages when North Hanover police spoke to the Ewing Police Department. Chief Keubler said Ewing police used information from North Hanover’s investigation as well as its own to further the investigation.
"Through the two, they were able to obtain the search warrant for the residence," Chief Keubler said.
He said North Hanover police assisted in the execution of the search warrant at Mr. Preto’s house on July 11.
"They provided substantial assistance on the day that the search warrant was executed at the house," Mr. Onofri said of North Hanover’s participation in the investigation.
He said over 100 rifles, over 50 handguns, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 1.5 pounds of marijuana and $900 in cash were found at the residence. Additionally, 18 grams of cocaine packaged for sale, narcotics transaction notes, $3,576 in cash and a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with hollow point bullets were found on Mr. Preto, he said.
Mr. Onofri said the investigation began about four and half months ago for the Mercer County Special Investigations Unit and Ewing police. He said they received information about suspected illegal activities happening at the Player’s Club Pool Hall on Parkway Avenue in Ewing.
"Our specific investigation as well as the Ewing Police Detective Bureau received information regarding powder cocaine distribution and gambling that was occurring within the pool club," he said.
Mr. Onofri said officers then went undercover and confirmed that Mr. Preto was selling drugs and weapons, as well as conducting illegal gambling operations.
Mr. Onofri said police also searched Mr. Preto’s car, in which they found a .357 Ruger handgun, a 500,000-volt Muscle Man stun gun and two digital scales.
When they searched the pool hall, Mr. Onofri said, police found two slot machines in a back room programmed to pay out money rather than tokens.
At the other business, the Community Search and Abstract business on Whitehorse-Mercerville Road in Hamilton, Mr. Onofri said, police found a duffel bag containing 126 prepackaged grams of cocaine, 3 ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms, narcotics packing material and cutting agents used to increase the weight of narcotics, he said.
Mr. Onofri said police are still working to catalogue all the guns they found.
Mr. Preto was placed in the Mercer County Corrections Center on $250,000 bail on July 11. Mr. Onofri said Mr. Preto was scheduled to appear in the Mercer County Criminal Court on Wednesday at 9 a.m. for a bail hearing. The results of the bail hearing were not available before the Register went to press Wednesday.
He said at the hearing, the items police found, including drugs and weapons, would be placed on the record and a judge would then decide whether to increase, decrease or keep Mr. Preto’s bail the same.
He said police are still investigating whether Mr. Preto has any ties to organized crime or gangs.
Chief Keubler said Mr. Preto was formerly involved in both the Republican and Democratic parties in North Hanover.
He said in 1995, Mr. Preto worked with the local GOP.
"He had no present affiliation that I’m aware of," Chief Keubler added.
In 2005, Mr. Preto ran against Mayor DeLorenzo in the Republican primary for Township Committee. Following his defeat, Mr. Preto became active in trying to help the Democratic candidates for Township Committee get elected, according to Mayor DeLorenzo.
Two other women were also charged in connection with alleged activities going on at the businesses, but were released on their own recognizance. Mr. Onofri said Ewing residents Heather Rohr, 20, and Melissa Johnson, 39, were charged with drug possession and possession with the intent to distribute.

