NEWARK, N.J. – Two Hudson County men were charged for their
alleged roles in trafficking heroin and fentanyl into a New Jersey state
prison, which resulted in an inmate’s overdose, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito
announced today.
Noel Salgado, 39, a/k/a “Kuko,” and Rodgerick Garrett, 38,
a/k/a “50,” a/k/a “Fif,” a/k/a “Boo,” both of Jersey City, New Jersey, were
each charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute and
possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of
distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl,
which resulted in serious bodily injury to a person. Both men are scheduled to
appear Sept. 30, 2019, for arraignment before U.S. District Judge Brian R.
Martinotti.
According to the indictment, other documents filed in this
case, and statements made in court:
Salgado is the leader of the “Loyal Hoody Gang” subset of
the Neighborhood Rolling 20 Bloods, a nationwide street gang. While
incarcerated as an inmate at Bayside State Prison, Salgado directed other gang
members and associates to provide narcotics proceeds to him and his associates
and to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into prison.
On Oct. 17, 2015, Salgado called Garrett from prison to
arrange for the purchase and smuggling into the prison of heroin and fentanyl.
A third conspirator picked up the narcotics from Garrett and smuggled them to
Salgado on Oct. 18, 2015. The following day, an inmate to whom Salgado had
distributed the narcotics was found unresponsive in his cell suffering from a
drug overdose. The inmate only regained consciousness after medical personnel
administered an opiate antidote to revive the inmate, who was hospitalized for
two days following his overdose.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to
distribute heroin and fentanyl, which resulted in serious bodily injury,
carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum
potential penalty of life in prison, and a $1 million fine. The conspiracy
charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the
FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark,
and investigators with the N.J. Department of Corrections, Special
Investigations Division, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Marcus O.
Hicks, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Christopher D. Amore and Elaine K. Lou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment