Five are apprehended after narcotics probe

More arrests are expected

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Four men and a 17-year-old boy were taken into custody at approximately 3 p.m. Oct. 30 following a six-month narcotics investigation by the Hopewell Township Police Department and the Mercer County prosecutor’s office’s Special Investigations Unit.
   ”The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected,” township police Chief George Meyer said Monday.
   Township detectives, along with detectives from the Special Investigations Unit, charged Jonathan Brakel in Hopewell Borough. Mr. Brakel, 21, of Crest Avenue, Hopewell Township, was charged with: possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; distribution of marijuana; two counts of possession of cocaine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; two counts of distribution of cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in a school zone; one count of distribution of cocaine in a school zone; unlawful possession of a weapon (a shotgun); making unlawful disposition of a weapon; possession with intent to distribute of an imitation controlled dangerous substance; and distribution of an imitation controlled dangerous substance.
   By “imitation controlled substance,” police mean those charged “were trying to imitate a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) by selling a white powder on the pretext that it was cocaine,” the chief said.
   A 17-year-old Hopewell Township boy, who was not a target of the investigation, was taken into custody along with Mr. Brakel, when he was found to be in possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.
   Alan Cross Jr., 26, of Hamilton, has been charged with possession of cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; distribution of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute of an imitation controlled dangerous substance; and distribution of an imitation controlled dangerous substance.
   A third target of the investigation, Paul Stephens, 21, of Taylor Terrace, Hopewell Borough, has been charged with: possession with intent to distribute an imitation controlled dangerous substance; and distribution of an imitation controlled dangerous substance.
   Anthony Marks, 20, of Conrad Street, Trenton, has been charged with: two counts of possession of cocaine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; two counts of distribution of cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in a school zone; and one count of distribution of cocaine in a school zone.
   Bail was set on Mr. Brakel at $85,000, full cash, and he was sent to the Mercer County Correction Center.
   Messrs. Cross and Stephens were released on their own recognizance.
   Mr. Marks was lodged in the Mercer County Correction Center on the charges listed above and other unrelated charges.
   The juvenile was released to a parent.
   The joint investigation targeted the sale and distribution of narcotics within Mercer County, with particular attention to the Hopewell Valley area.
   Hopewell Township Detective Daniel McKeown headed the investigation for the township; he worked with detectives from the Special Investigation Unit.