Five people and two corporations have been named in a 30-count indictment regarding a multi-million-dollar criminal enterprise responsible for manufacturing and distributing narcotics in New Jersey, New York and through the Dark Web.
Chester Anderson, 45, of South Brunswick; Jarrette Codd, 42, of Jamesburg; and Ronald MacCarty, 51, of Jackson in Ocean Township, were indicted on first degree racketeering; as well as two companies, Next Level Research & Development, Inc. (sinmed) located in South Brunswick and MTM Cellular, LLC (Wireless Spots) in Asbury Park, according to information provided by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey on Aug. 16.
Anderson has been indicted as a leader of a narcotics trafficking network and promoting organized street crime, both first-degree crimes. He was also indicted as a leader of organized crime, use of a 17-year-old or younger to commit a criminal offense, and endangering the welfare of a child, all second-degree crimes, according to the statement.
The charges in the indictment also include maintaining or operating drug production facilities in South Brunswick, Old Bridge, Vineland and in Cumberland County, all first first-degree crimes; possession with intent to distribute a variety of illegal and prescription legend drugs, and unlawful possession of handgun ammunition in the fourth degree.
Next Level Research & Development and MTM Cellular were indicted for financial facilitation of criminal activity in the first degree for dealing with property or engaging in transactions involving property known to be derived from criminal activity, according to the statement.
Anderson, Codd and his wife Tania Codd, MacCarty and his wife Marissa MacCarty, have all been indicted for failure to file personal tax returns and failure to pay income taxes. Next Level Research & Development was also indicted for failure to file and pay business tax returns, all third-degree crimes, according to the statement.
The 30-count indictment were handed up following a presentation to a Middlesex County Grand Jury by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Russell Curley.
The charges on April 3 followed an extensive investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Service, the South Brunswick Police Department, and the New Jersey Division of Taxation, Office of Criminal Investigations, according to the statement.
An investigation began in 2017, when the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office uncovered a series of suspicious transactions involving bitcoin, a digital cryptocurrency. These transactions were linked to Next Level Research and Development, which listed Ronald MacCarty and Anderson as affiliates, according to the statement.
Further investigation determined that between March 2016 and April 2019, the defendants were allegedly involved in a criminal enterprise that was responsible for manufacturing and distributing narcotics in New Jersey, New York and through the Dark Web, according to the statement.
The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information should call Sgt. Craig Marchak of Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4505.