SOMERVILLE, N.J. - Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson and local authorities announced the arrests of Ibe Allah, age 53, North Oaks Blvd., North Brunswick, Clifford Christian (A.K.A. “Cee”), age 55, Harvey Street, New Brunswick, Daniel Brown (A.K.A. “Twin”), age 39, Main Street, Spotswood, NJ, Robert Byrom (A.K.A. “Has”), age 62, French Street, New Brunswick, NJ, Christine Peritore, age 45, York Drive, Edison, NJ, and Shaday Gordon, age 33, Cedar Lane, Highland Park, NJ.
These individuals were arrested following a four-month investigation into the distribution of heroin in the Somerset/Middlesex County area. They were charged with the following offenses:
1. Ibe Allah – 1st degree Leader of Narcotics Trafficking Network, 1st-degree Promotion of Organized Street Crime, 1st degree Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility, 2nd-degree Conspiracy, 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), and 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (cocaine).
2. Clifford Christian- 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), 2nd-degree Conspiracy, and Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
3. Daniel Brown- 1st degree Leader of Narcotics Trafficking Network, 1st degree Promotion of Organized Street Crime, 1st degree Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance production facility, 1st degree, Robbery, 1st degree, Burglary, 2nd degree, Conspiracy, 2nd degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), 2nd degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (cocaine), 2nd degree, Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
4. Robert Byrom- 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), 2nd-degree Conspiracy, Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
5. Christine Peritore- 1st degree Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance production facility, 2nd degree Endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), 2nd-degree Conspiracy, and Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
6. Shaday Gordon- 1st degree Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance production facility, 2nd degree Endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), and 2nd-degree Conspiracy.
7. Hassan Cooper, age 31, Edpas Road, New Brunswick, NJ – 1st degree Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance, production facility, 1st-degree Robbery, 2nd-degree Burglary, 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), 2nd-degree Conspiracy, and Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
8. Melanie Giachetti, age 46, York Drive, Edison, NJ – 1st degree Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance production facility, 2nd degree Endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), 2nd-degree Conspiracy, and Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
9. Jermaine L. Robinson Jr., age 26, Millstone Road, Somerset, NJ – 2nd-degree Possession of a Weapon by Certain Persons and 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
10. Laquan Hill, age 30, Edpas Road New Brunswick, NJ – 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (cocaine) and 2nd-degree Conspiracy.
11. Darrell Williams, age 42, Edpas Road New Brunswick, NJ – 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (cocaine) and 2nd-degree Conspiracy.
12. Dwight Beckett, age 56, Somerset Street, Somerset, NJ – 4th-degree Possession of Hollowpoint bullets and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
13. Sanford James, age 48, Oliver Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ – 2nd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin) and 2nd-degree Conspiracy.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 as a result of this comprehensive investigation, investigators executed eight (8) Superior Court-issued search warrants to include the residences of Daniel Brown, Hassan Cooper, Shaday Gordon, Sanford James, Christine Peritore, and Melanie Giachetti, which resulted in the seizure of approximately seventy (70) grams of raw heroin, nearly two thousand five hundred (2,500) bags of packaged heroin, about one (1) ounce of cocaine, a Charter Arms .38 caliber handgun, five thousand and fifty dollars ($5,050.00) in U.S. currency, and numerous items utilized for drug manufacturing to include empty wax folds, ink pads, various brands of stampers used to identify heroin, sifters, scales, packaging material, rubber bands, and cutting agents.
The heroin seized has an estimated street value of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) and the cocaine seized has an estimated street value of approximately one thousand and three hundred dollars (1,300.00).
Hassan Cooper and Daniel Brown were additionally charged with 1st-degree Armed Robbery for their roles during a home invasion in Plainfield, New Jersey, which occurred on Thursday, October 3, 2019.
On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, the following individuals were arrested for 3rd-degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance:
Hazel Johnson (also, 3rd-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), age 40, Perry Drive, North Brunswick, NJ)
Derek Andrews, age 55, Hale Street, New Brunswick, NJ
Doussou Karibuhoye-Said, age 25, Quail Ridge Drive, Plainsboro, NJ
Irving Figueroa, age 31, Freeman Street, New Brunswick, NJ
Joseph Langone, age 48, Crescent Avenue, Spotswood, NJ
Jose Medero-Lopez, age 50, Wright Place, New Brunswick, NJ
Jose Cotto, age 49, Towson Street, New Brunswick, NJ
Omar Narvaez-Mata, age 30, Gibbons Street, Linden, NJ
Thomas Newsom, age 66, Prospect Street, Somerset, NJ
Angel Oquendo, age 56, Plum Street, New Brunswick, NJ
Lemont Pringle, age 44, Winding Lane, Sayreville, NJ
Douglas Stephens, age 64, Pheasant Hollow Drive, Plainsboro, NJ
The following individuals were charged with 3rd-degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance but have not been arrested as Investigators continue to search for them:
Angel Pena, age 69, Henry Street, Somerset, NJ
Timothy Glover, age 50, Belmar Street, Somerset, NJ
Travis Best, age 51, Remsen Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
Robert Friedman, age 55, Briarwood Drive, Somerset, NJ.
Prosecutor Robertson stated, aside from the previously mentioned departments, that the success of this operation would not have been possible without the active cooperation of the Somerset County SWAT Team, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit, the Middlesex County SWAT Team, the New Brunswick Police Department Narcotics Unit, the Edison Police Department Narcotic Unit, the Plainfield Police Department Detective Bureau, and the Bound Brook Police Department K-9 Unit.
The stamps seized included Transformers, Major League Baseball, Jumpman, Elmo with Love, Tango and Cash, Tiger Woods, Kill Bill, Joy & Pain, Dope Dick, Block Buster, and Cadillac.
If any agency is requesting further information regarding the seized stamps, please contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 231-7100 and ask to speak with Det. John Dugan or Det. John Tuchmatulin.