United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BERGEN COUNTY, N.Y. - Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo; James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the US Drug Enforcement (DEA); James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of the New York City Police (NYPD); and George P. Beach II, Superintendent of the New York State (NYSP) announced the arrest of Jhon Rodriguez-Acosta of 205 Orchard Street, Apt. B, Elizabeth, NJ on various charges related to the possession and intended distribution of Heroin. This arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the New York Drug Enforcement Task (NYDETF) comprising agents and officers of the DEA, NYPD and NYSP.

In March 2018, investigators received information that Jhon Rodriguez-Acosta was distributing narcotics in various areas of New Jersey including Bergen County. During the investigation, Rodriguez-Acosta conspired to distribute heroin to a Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Detective. On April 11, 2018, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Rodriguez-Acosta’s residence at 205 Orchard Street, Apt. B, Elizabeth, NJ and “Destiny Hair Studio,” also located at 205 Orchard Street, Apt, G, Elizabeth, NJ. Law enforcement officers seized approximately 2,000 grams of raw, unpackaged Heroin, approximately 30 glassines of packaged suspected Heroin/Fentanyl, and a small quantity of Crack-Cocaine, with a combined estimated street value of $160,000. Law enforcement officers also seized various cutting agents, $1,700 in cash, and Heroin packaging materials.

Jhon Rodriguez-Acosta was arrested on April 11, 2018 in Elizabeth, NJ and charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely Heroin, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(1), a crime of the 1st degree, one count of maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4, a crime of the 1st degree, one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely Heroin, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-3/2C:35-5b(1), a crime of the 2nd degree, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia associated to the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of controlled dangerous substances, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-3, a crime of the 4th degree. Rodriguez-Acosta was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending an appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Acting Prosecutor Dennis Calo states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the NYDETF, the Elizabeth Police Department, and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.