A Plainfield man has been arrested, and a large quantity of cocaine seized as a result of a narcotics investigation, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Plainfield Police Director Lisa Burgess jointly announced Thursday.
Officials say Nelson G. Hercules-Hurtado, 43, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, two related third-degree drug offenses, and two lesser drug offenses.
The arrest stems from an investigation by the Plainfield Police Division’s Narcotics/Vice Section, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza of the Opioid Task Force launched by Ruotolo, who is prosecuting the case.
On Thursday, March 5, investigators executed a search warrant on Hercules-Hurtado’s apartment, located on the 700 blocks of Kensington Avenue in Plainfield, recovering 2.67 kilograms of cocaine stored in various containers and bags, more than $12,300 in cash, and materials commonly used for the packaging and distribution of cocaine according to officials.
Following the execution of the warrant, Hercules-Hurtado was arrested and transported to the Union County Jail, pending a first appearance and detention hearing scheduled to take place in Superior Court.
Convictions on criminal charges of this nature are commonly punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. These charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.