SOUTH BOUND BROOK BOROUGH, NJ (Somerset County) – A four-month-long undercover narcotics investigation into the alleged distribution of cocaine in Somerset County has led to the arrest of three South Bound Brook Borough residents, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On Wednesday, June 29, at around 7:00 p.m., members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force were continuing a narcotic investigation into the distribution of cocaine by Christian Duarte, 44, from a residence located on Elizabeth Street in South Bound Brook, McDonald said.
Duarte was ultimately arrested outside of his residence and found to be in possession of 101 grams of cocaine (approximately 3.5 ounces), McDonald said.
Following the arrest of Duarte, the County Task Force detectives obtained a Superior Court ordered search warrant for the Elizabeth Street residence. Task Force detectives along with members of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit executed the Superior Court search warrant, McDonald said.
A search of the residence yielded an additional 41 grams of cocaine along with packaging material, McDonald said.
The investigation revealed that David Hernandez-Garcia, 22, and Fernando Villa, 35, also resided in the residence. Hernandez-Garcia was inside the residence at the time of the search warrant and was arrested without incident and Villa was not at the residence, McDonald said.
On Tuesday, July 12, at around 1:00 p.m., members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force located Villa in the area of Main Street in South Bound Brook where he was arrested without incident in reference to the narcotic investigation, McDonald said.
The total amount of cocaine seized during this investigation was approximately 172 grams of cocaine (6 ounces) with an estimated street value of $10,320 dollars, McDonald said.
Duarte was charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, two counts of second-degree distribution of cocaine, two counts of second-degree distribution of cocaine within 500 feet of a public park and two counts of third-degree distribution of cocaine within 1000 feet of a school zone.
Villa was charged with second-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and fourth-degree possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hernandez-Garcia was charged with third-degree possession of cocaine.
Duarte and Villa were each lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing. Hernandez-Garcia was released on his own recognizance pending a court appearance, McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force at (908) 575-3300 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
