NEWARK, NJ – Seven people were arrested this week by the Newark Police Department as part of an ongoing operation to take illegal guns and drugs off the streets of the city.
According to Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara, Newark police officers recovered six illegal firearms and several decks of heroin following the execution of a search warrant at an East Ward residence resulting in the arrest of Justin White, 25, and Julio Rodriguez, 54, both of Newark, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
“The Newark Police Criminal Intelligence Unit, along with our federal law enforcement partners, are proving daily that they are committed to safeguarding Newark neighborhoods from the presence of illegal guns,” Director O’Hara said. “Because of the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in New Jersey, these offenders face federal charges, which we trust will serve as a strong deterrent to others who consider unlawfully possessing illegal firearms. To date, our gun recoveries this year are 222 and counting,” O’Hara said.
Police reports show White was arrested after he was located inside a vehicle and found in possession of suspected CDS heroin. Rodriguez was arrested inside a residence he shares with White. There, police confiscated an assault rifle, 12-gauge shotgun, .38-Special revolver, .357 Magnum revolver, .6MM BB gun, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Police also recovered 21 bricks and 41 glassine envelopes of suspected CDS heroin, along with key fobs from a BMW, Land Rover, Bentley and Audi. Each suspect faces federal charges for CDS possession and weapon possession.
According to a statement released by O’Hara, “At 11 p.m. on April 26, 2022, police arrested Derrick Jones, 25, of Irvington, after he was observed with a handgun inside a parking lot at McCarter Highway conducting a drug transaction with four men inside another vehicle. The four men, Brandon Campos, 21, and Gianluca Chagas, 23, both of Newark, Gabriel Correa, 22, of Watchung, and Konate Attila, 26, of Bordentown, were also arrested at the scene.”
Police identified a black Mercedes Benz that had eluded the officers while speeding at State Street. The vehicle was again observed in the parking lot at McCarter Highway next to a white Mercedes Benz SUV. Police observed Jones attempting to conceal a loaded handgun between the front seat and the middle console of the black Mercedes. Jones was also found in possession of 48 glassine envelopes of suspected CDS heroin. The four men in the white Mercedes Benz were found in possession of over 8 pounds of marijuana. Chagas was found in possession of $7,030.00; Attila was found in possession of $7,656.00; Jones was found in possession of $1,772.00; and Campos was found in possession of $70.00.
-Newark Police Department Records
“Jones faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (large capacity magazine and hollow point ammunition), possession of a weapon while committing CDS offenses, CDS possession, CDS distribution, CDS distribution within 500 feet of a park, and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession. Campos, Attila, Chagas, and Correa each face charges of CDS marijuana possession, possession of CDS marijuana with the intent to distribute, and CDS possession of marijuana with the intention to distribute within 500 feet of a park,” O’Hara added. “Police also recovered an additional illegal firearm from the execution of a vehicle and South Ward residence on Monday, April 25, 2022. This totals six weapons found in possession of Aazes Wade, 33, of Newark, who was arrested and faces six counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited weapons (large capacity magazine and defaced firearm), certain persons prohibited from weapon possession, CDS distribution, and CDS distribution within 1,000-ft. of a school.”
“Addressing violent crime occurring in our communities is a top priority for Newark Police,” Director O’Hara said. “I commend our detectives for their diligence in actively confiscating illegal firearms. Each gun removed from our streets is a potential life saved from senseless violence.”