A township man and local business owner is one of 10 men charged in operating a regional drug ring for more than 20 years, according to officials.
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
CRANBURY — A township man and local business owner is one of 10 men charged in operating a regional drug ring for more than 20 years, according to officials.
Gaetano Barone, 40, of Cranbury was the last man to be charged Dec. 27, according to a press release from New Jersey State Police.
According to the release, a cooperative investigation by the New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, New Brunswick Police Department, and other agencies led to the arrests of 10 people in connection with a large drug distribution network operating throughout Central New Jersey.
The 10-month investigation focused on the alleged drug distribution activities of Paul Cano, 47, of New Brunswick, John Meerbaugh, 53, of North Brunswick, and Frank Kinelski, 53 of Somerset, according to the release.
Police believe the men used sophisticated means to distribute cocaine and marijuana in Central New Jersey for up to two decades, the release said.
Mr. Cano is also believed to have bought and sold illegal weapons while engaging in the drug distribution activities.
Some of the men charged held public service jobs, according to officials.
One of those arrested, Michael Mahony, 55, of Milltown, is the Chief Housing Inspector of the New Brunswick Housing Authority.
Two others arrested are Michael Vitanza, 57 of North Brunswick, who is employed by the North Brunswick Department of Public Works, and Scott Campion, 40, of North Brunswick, who is a dispatcher with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, police said.
”These alleged drug dealers posed a serious threat to the communities where they operated, as evidenced by the numerous illegal guns and drugs that we seized,” said Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman. “Through long-term investigations of this type, we are putting drug and gun traffickers where they belong – behind bars for a long time – and we are making the people of New Jersey safer.”
According to the release, detectives executed numerous arrest and search warrants Dec. 18-19.
Mr. Cano was arrested in New Brunswick near Jersey Avenue and John Meerbaugh was arrested at his home in North Brunswick. Both were charged with possession and distribution of controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Mr. Cano was also charged with weapons offenses.
They were lodged in the Middlesex County Jail in lieu of bail.
Michael Mahony was arrested and taken into custody near his residence while driving a city- owned vehicle and was found with a distribution quantity of cocaine during the arrest, police said.
He was charged with possession of CDS and distribution of CDS. He was lodged in the Middlesex County Jadult Correction Center in North Brunswick and has since been released on bail.
Michael Vitanza is alleged to have obtained drugs while working.
He was arrested at his place employment and charged with CDS offenses including conspiracy to distribute.
Scott Campion was charged with CDS offenses.
Mr. Vitanza was lodged in the Middlesex County Jail in default of bail.
Mr. Kinelski was arrested at his residence and found with MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, weapons, and more than $2,000 cash. He was also lodged in the Middlesex County Jail in default of bail.
When Mr. Barone was taken into custody and charged with numerous drug and weapons offenses, detectives seized cocaine, marijuana, MDMA, prescription legend drugs (PLDs), steroids, a handgun, and counterfeit clothing from that location. He was lodged in the Middlesex County Jail in default of bail.
The majority of the drugs and weapons were found at Mr. Barone’s business, the Cranberry’s Gourmet Café, 10 Clearbrook Drive in Monroe, and at the homes of Mr. Cano, Mr. Meerbaugh and Mr. Kinelski, police said.
In total, detectives recovered more than 1.5 kilos of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, 12 ounces of MDMA, 167 PLDs, and steroids. The seized drugs are valued at approximately $130,000, police said.
Also seized were 17 handguns, 14 rifles, two assault rifles, two shotguns, four high capacity magazines, one stun gun, one ballistic vest, and more than $10,000 cash.
Twenty-two of the 36 weapons were found to be illegal, police said.
Additionally, many items related to drug distribution were seized including, scales, grinders, packaging equipment, and cutting agents. A 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck allegedly used by Mr. Cano for drug distribution was also seized.
”We are working across all levels of law enforcement to target the narcotics and weapons trafficking that are fueling violence in our communities,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “With this operation, we took down a criminal syndicate that allegedly had been bringing illicit drugs and weapons into Middlesex and Somerset counties for many years.”
The case will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice under the Office of the Attorney General.