"Molly" and Heroin Drug Bust: 4 Alleged Local Dealers Nabbed

A seven-month undercover police investigation into the sale of MDMA, aka "Molly" and heroin in Watchung Borough and Franklin Township in Somerset County has resulted in the arrest of four people, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano said today.

Among them is Scott Carson, 29, of Park Drive South in West Orange. When police executed a search warrant on his residence over Presidents Day weekend, they said they discovered Carson had an ounce of Heroin, 40 vials of cocaine, a 9 mm handgun, a .40 caliber handgun, .22 caliber assault rifle and packaging materials.

According to police, Carson was supplying Andrea Lunetta, 26, of Windingwood Way, Sayreville, who in turn supplied Jakai Jones, 30, of Woodmere Drive, in the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen. Semih Demir, 25, of Brookside Lane of Berkley Heights was also connected to the scheme, police say, but they did not detail how in a press release about the arrests. 

Police say the individuals sold narcotics in Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Monmouth and Essex counties in New Jersey and in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

The investigation dubbed “Operation Raw Deal” began in August of 2013, when Jones was documented selling "Molly" to undercover detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force who then worked to uncover the source. 

On Sunday, February 16, they were ready to execute search warrants. Detectives from the SCPO Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, with the assistance of detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, West Orange Police Department, Sayreville Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency executed search warrants on the residences and vehicles belonging to defendants Carson, Lunetta, Jones and Semir.

The total amount of heroin seized in “Operation Raw Deal” has an estimated street value of $7,500 and the total amount of “Molly” (methylone) has an estimated street value of $9,112, said the Prosecutor's Office. 

Scott Carson of West Orange was was charged with numerous serious offenses, among them: maintaining a CDS (Heroin) production facility, 1st degree; unlawful possession of an assault rifle 2nd degree; endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd degree; flight, 4th degree, conspiracy to distribute CDS (Heroin), 2nd  degree; possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense, 2nd degree (3 counts); conspiracy to distribute CDS, 3rd  degree; possession with intent to distribute CDS (cocaine) 3rd degree; possession of CDS paraphernalia; disorderly persons.

Andrea Lunetta of Sayreville was charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS (MDMC and Heroin), 3rd degree; conspiracy to distribute CDS (MDMC), 2nd degree; distribution of CDS (MDMC) 2nd degree; and endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd degree.

Jakai Jones of Cliffwood Beach was charged with distribution of a CDS (MDMC), 2nd degree; conspiracy to distribute CDS, 3rd degree; conspiracy to distribute MDMC, 2nd degree.

Semih Demir of Berkley Heights was charged with maintaining a CDS production facility (MDMC), 1st degree; distribution of a CDS (MDMC), 3rd degree; distribution of CDS marijuana, 3rd degree; and conspiracy to distribute CDS, 3rd degree.

Also ensnared in the investigation was Samantha Simonson, 18, of Lakewood Ave, Keansburg and Antonio Rivera, 28, of Charles Street, Perth Amboy, who police said attempted to make arrangements to sell narcotics during the investigation. They were charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS, 3rd degree. 

Police also went after the buyers who allegedly bought heroin and other drugs from the defendants during the investigation. Charged with attempt to possess CDS and/or conspiracy to possess CDS, 3rd degree are:

Daniel Amadio, age 39, of Cliffwood Ave, Cliffwood Beach

Christen Reinglas, age 23, of Courtland Lane, Aberdeen

Elijah Duplessis, age 23, of Lowell Ave, West Orange

Zachary Robbins, age 27, of Pleasant Valley Way, Summit

Romeo Vergara, Deerfield Dr, age 26, of West Orange

Helena Freeman, age 37, of Chestnut Street, West Orange

Chris Gamba, age 23, of Swayze Street, West Orange.

Jessie Casanovas, age 30, of Washington Street, West Orange

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification provided assistance during the investigation, police said.

An arrest does not indicate a conviction. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.