May 7, 2003
Trenton,
NJ — A two-month investigation into cocaine distribution in Trenton ended
yesterday with two arrests and the seizure of $32,500 worth of drugs, a gun and
a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced today.
According
to Prosecutor Giaquinto, the investigation was conducted by the Mercer County
Narcotics Task Force, led by Lt. Al Paglione of the prosecutor’s Special
Investigations Unit. The
investigation centered on Rhea Priester (DOB 5/14/69) of 360 Brunswick Avenue,
Trenton. Armed with information that Priester was distributing substantial
amounts of powder cocaine in Trenton and utilizing a residence on Jersey Street
as a stash house, the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, led by Lt. Paglione,
initiated a series of surveillances and purchases.
Yesterday, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Priester was arrested on Humboldt
Street after leaving the stash house in her 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Prosecutor
Giaquinto said.
At the time of her arrest, Priester was found to be in possession of 120 grams of powder cocaine (a street value of $7,500) and a few hundred dollars in U.S. currency. She is 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, two counts of distribution and two counts of distribution within 1000 feet of a school, Prosecutor Giaquinto said.
The
Jeep was confiscated.
After
arresting Priester, task force members executed search warrants at 334 Jersey
Street and Priester’s Brunswick Avenue apartment.
Detectives
seized 415 grams of powder cocaine (a street value of $25,000), $5,000 in cash
and a loaded .38 caliber revolver from the Jersey Street residence, Lt. Paglione
stated. A small amount of
marijuana, digital scales and packaging materials were also found.
Prosecutor
Giaquinto stated that detectives arrested Latecha Randolph (DOB 3/27/74) at the
Jersey Street address and charged her with possession of a controlled dangerous
substance (CDS), possession with the intent to distribute, possession of a
firearm while committing a CDS offense and certain persons not to possess
firearms.
Randolph’s
four children, between 3 and 12 years of age, were present at the time of her
arrest and turned over to the custody of a relative.
Assorted
paperwork and drug paraphernalia were seized from Priester’s second floor
apartment on Brunswick Avenue.
According
to Lt. Paglione, it is common for mid- to upper-level drug dealers to use
locations they have no connection to as stash houses.
It is a technique used to try to evade detection by police. “They don’t keep drugs where they lay their heads,” he
stated.
“This
investigation shows the significant inroads women have made in the drug
trade,” Prosecutor Giaquinto said. “It
is particularly tragic and dangerous when you consider that the stash house was
a residence with young children, guns and drugs.”
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 assisted in the investigation.
Bail
was set at $350,000 for Priester and $150,000 for Randolph.
Both women are being held in the Mercer County Correction Center.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.