NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Deputy Chief Joseph Battaglia of the North Brunswick Police Department announced today that a township man has been charged with maintaining and operating a narcotics production facility.
On December 29, 2020, Jeremy Franklin, 44, of North Brunswick was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree distribution of cocaine, one count of first-degree maintaining or operating a premise used to manufacture cocaine, one count of second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of Babbage Park, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of children, and one count of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1000 feet of Parsons Elementary School.
A narcotics investigation conducted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and the North Brunswick Police Department resulted in a search of Franklin’s residence, which yielded a large amount of what is believed to be cocaine as well as U.S. currency. Franklin was taken into custody at the residence.
Franklin is lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center pending a Detention Hearing in Superior Court.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Pete Badawy of the North Brunswick Police Department at (732) 247-0922, or Detective Erik Larsen of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-5977.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Franklin are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.