Detectives from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office arrested three members of the Latin Kings street gang Wednesday, Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. One of the suspects is a fugitive from Florida apprehended with the help of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office there.
Detectives searched a second-floor apartment at 502 N. 4th St. Wednesday and found more than a kilo of cocaine, 167 grams of marijuana and nearly $4,000 in cash.
The occupants of the apartment, Jennifer Pisciotta, 27, her boyfriend Victor Lopez, 32, and Jose Colon were all arrested. Pisciotta was also wanted for a probation violation.
The couple’s children, two girls aged 8 and 1, were also found at the apartment and turned over to family members.
“The fugitive had managed to elude Florida authorities for more than two years,” Sheriff Fontoura noted. “Today’s arrests underscore the very best of cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”
The three suspects were charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of St. Benedict Park and conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.
Pisciotta and Lopez were additionally charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Following questioning, the suspects will be lodged at the Essex County jail where they will wait arraignment on today’s charges.
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