July 11, 2001
Trenton, NJ — Two Trenton men were arrested and approximately $9,000 in heroin was seized yesterday morning by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.
Naketta
Finn (DOB 12/8/67), of the 100 block of Howell Street, and Stanley Gilchrist
(DOB 1/24/58), of the 200 block of Beechwood Avenue, were arrested and charged
with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession with the
intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet
of a school, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park
and maintaining a CDS production facility.
Giaquinto stated that the production facility charge is a first-degree
offense, carrying a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
A
three-week investigation by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, led by Lt.
Al Paglione and the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, determined that
the defendants were supplying a multitude of street-level drug dealers with
heroin. At approximately 10 a.m.
Wednesday morning, officers executed the first of three search warrants at the
Beechwood Avenue address. Naketta
Finn was observed entering the apartment through sliding glass doors and exiting
a short time later. When the
defendant saw the officers approaching, he ran back into the apartment.
Officers
pursued Finn into the kitchen, where he was found throwing packets of heroin
into the garbage. The defendant was
then taken into custody. Stanley
Gilchrist was arrested upon his arrival at the apartment.
A
search of the apartment produced additional packets of heroin.
In total, 600 decks were seized (a street value of approximately $9,000).
Also seized were cutting agents, packaging materials, a blender, a scale,
an inkpad and a number of stamps.
Later
in the morning, two additional search warrants were executed at the Howell
Street address, where $6100 in cash was seized, and in the 900 block of South
Broad Street, where approximately two grams of powder cocaine, marijuana under
50 grams and packaging materials were seized.
“This
investigation demonstrates the resurgence of heroin in Mercer County,”
Giaquinto said. “It is an
extremely potent, dangerous and, unfortunately, sought after drug.”
Both
Giaquinto and Paglione stated that the Trenton Vice Enforcement Unit was
instrumental in the arrests. The
West Windsor police and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department also assisted.
Finn
is being held in the Mercer County Corrections Center in lieu of $750,000 cash
bail. Gilchrist is being held in
the Mercer County Corrections Center in lieu of $500,000 cash bail
Despite
having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.