April 16, 2003
Trenton,
NJ —A four-week investigation by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force
resulted in one arrest and the seizure of $148,000 worth of drugs, three guns
and a 2000 Ford Expedition from the Chambersburg area, Prosecutor Daniel G.
Giaquinto announced today.
“The
task force remains committed to ridding residential neighborhoods of the scourge
of drug dealing and guns,” Giaquinto said.
According
to Giaquinto, Troy Patterson (DOB 8/11/68), of the first block of Cove Street,
was arrested without incident and charged with three counts each of possession
of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS with the intent to
distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park (Agabiti
Playground) and possession with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a
school (Washington School). Patterson
was also charged with various weapons offenses, including possession of a
firearm while committing a CDS offense and certain persons not to possess
firearms.
According
to Lt. Al Paglione of the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the
investigation was prompted by intelligence gathered from street sources, as well
as previously conducted investigations, alleging that Patterson was selling
substantial amounts of powder and crack cocaine.
Under
Paglione’s command, members of the task force executed search warrants at
Patterson’s residence at approximately 1 p.m. today.
Patterson was found to be in the living room with a duffel bag containing
four and a half pounds of cocaine (241 grams of crack cocaine and 2451 grams of
powder cocaine) with a street value of over $144,000.
Also in the bag were 1,000 ecstasy pills, $70 in counterfeit money, a
digital scale and packaging materials.
A
plastic container filled with 120 bags of heroin, stamped “Delicious,” was
found on the living floor and plastic bag filled with approximately $7,500 in
cash was on a counter in the kitchen, Paglione said.
Three
semi-automatic handguns (one .40 caliber and two .380 caliber) were found in the
basement along with ammunition, Paglione stated.
One of the weapons had a defaced serial number and two had laser sights.
“The
nature and quality of the weapons once again demonstrates the link between guns
and drugs and the potential for violence in the drug trade,” Giaquinto said.
A
2000 Ford Expedition was also confiscated.
Bail
was set in the amount of $1,000,000 by Superior Court Judge Paul Innes.
Patterson is being held in the Mercer County Correction Center.
Members
of the state Division of Criminal Justice, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office,
the Lawrence Township Police Department and the Washington Township Police
Department’s assisted in the investigation.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.