LINDEN, NJ – Police in Linden participated in a statewide crackdown against fentanyl dealers that led to the arrest of three Linden residents as part of a statewide anti-narcotics operation.
“Search and arrest warrants were executed on June 20th in the pre-dawn hours on across the State in Phillipsburg, Middlesex Borough and on homes in Linden on the 1100 block of Charles Street and the 1000 block of Hussa Street, according to Assistant Prosecutors Peter DeRose and Megan Tomlinson, who are prosecuting the case,” police said. “Approximately 100 grams of raw fentanyl, hundreds of items of drug paraphernalia and packaging materials, two handguns and over $4,000 in cash was seized during the operation.
Police said the arrests were the culmination of a three month investigation by multiple agencies.
- Jawwaad Butler, 43 of Phillipsburg, who was charged with first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network and third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (CDS).
- Justin Williams, 42 of Middlesex Borough, who was charged with second-degree possession with of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substance, second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense, second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon, and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.
- William Randle, 58 of Linden, who was charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substance.
- Dameon Little, 50 of Linden who was charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substance.
- Clifford Jones, 35 of Linden who was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, third-degree possession of controlled dangerous substance and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.
The five men were taken into custody during the operation. Little, Jones and Randle were subsequently released on Pre-trial Monitoring pending their next Court appearance while Butler and Williams remain incarcerated pending the outcome of the case, Tomlinson and DeRose said. – Linden P.D.
“I am extremely grateful to Chief Hart and the members of the Linden Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office for their efforts throughout this investigation,” said Prosecutor Daniel. “Together with the extensive collaboration with our partner local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, our tireless efforts to diminish the devastating impact of opioids and guns in the communities we serve continue.”