November 13, 2003

PROSECUTOR’S SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT ARRESTS FOUR, SEIZES MORE THAN THREE POUNDS OF COCAINE 

Trenton, NJ — Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. today announced that his office’s Special Investigations Unit (“SIU”) concluded a two and a half month narcotics investigation with the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of more than three pounds of powder cocaine. 

Those arrested include Juan Morales AKA Peto, 36, of the 800 block of Chambers Street; Genesis Torres AKA Omar, 26, of the first block of Peace Street; and Pablo Rivera, 21, and  Yazmin Yiedt Pizzaro AKA Yary, 21, both of the 800 block of South Broad Street.  

According to Prosecutor Bocchini, his office received information that a substantial amount of powder cocaine was being dealt in the Pearl Street area.  During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the two targets, Morales and Torres, were employed by an independent cleaning service working out of the state Division of Taxation building on Barrack Street. 

The SIU developed information that a large cocaine transaction was taking place today in the parking lot next to the Taxation building off of West Front Street. At 10:30 this morning, the SIU, under the command of Lt. William Straniero and assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the New Jersey State Police, the state Division of Criminal Justice, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and the Ewing Township Police Department, set up surveillance and observed Rivera deliver a quantity of cocaine to Morales and Torres.  Morales and Torres were then observed walking to Torres’ residence on Peace Street and, a short time later, departing and engaging in a subsequent drug transaction. 

Torres was immediately placed under arrest.  Morales was apprehended on West Front Street after a brief foot chase. 

Morales was found to be in possession of a half ounce of powder cocaine and approximately $960.  Officers also recovered six ounces of powder cocaine from the West Front Street parking lot that Morales discarded before fleeing. 

Officers then simultaneously executed search warrants in the 800 blocks of South Broad and Chambers streets.  At the South Broad Street location, which was revealed to be the stash location for the enterprise, approximately 1-¾ pounds of powder cocaine with a street value of more than $78,000 was seized along with a 9 mm handgun and a cocaine press. 

At the Chambers Street location, officers discovered approximately $2,300 in cash, .25 caliber ammunition, counter surveillance walkie-talkies and two motorized scooters, all of which were confiscated.  The scooters and walkie-talkies were used to distribute cocaine throughout Trenton. 

Officers also conducted a search of the Peace Street location and found just over a pound of powder cocaine, street valued at approximately $45,000, an ounce and a half of crack cocaine, and a .25 caliber Rossi handgun, as well as cutting agents. 

In total, more than three pounds of powder cocaine (just over 1-½ kilos) with an estimated street value of $120,000, two handguns and $3,285 in cash were seized. 

“A huge quantity of cocaine was removed from the streets of Trenton today,” Bocchini said.  “This was a very sophisticated cocaine operation that brazenly sold narcotics throughout the city using counter surveillance radios and motor scooters, as well as receiving drug deliveries at a government building.  Today’s arrests mark a significant victory in our fight to clean up the streets of Trenton.”    

All four defendants were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school. 

Cash bails were set by Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey in the amounts of $350,000 for Morales and Torres, $300,000 for Rivera and $10,000 for Pizzaro.  All are being held at 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.