Fentanyl, 2 Handguns Seized In Union Co. Narcotics Investigation: Prosecutors

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A joint investigation led by Union County Prosecutor's Opioid Task Force and the Linden Police Department led to arrest of five men, as well as the seizure of fentanyl and two handguns, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Linden Police Chief David Hart announced Friday.

Approximately 100 grams of raw fentanyl, hundreds of items of drug paraphernalia and packaging materials, two guns and over $4,000 were seized during the county's operation, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said search and arrest warrants were executed on June 20 in Phillipsburg, Middlesex Borough and on homes in Linden on the 1100 block of Charles Street and the 1000 block of Hussa Street.

The three-month investigation and the subsequent search-and-arrest warrants led to the arrests of:

• 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
• 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, according to prosecutors. Little, Jones and Randle were released on Pre-trial Monitoring pending their next court appearance, while Butler and Williams remain incarcerated pending the outcome of the case, prosecutors said.

“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.”

Prosecutors said multi-agency investigation included collaboration and support from the Drug Enforcement Agency Newark Field Division, the New Jersey State Police Electronic Surveillance Unit, the Elizabeth Police Department Emergency Services Unit, the Cranford Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Roselle Park Police Department, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Hoboken Police Department.

The Union County SWAT Team and the SWAT Teams of both Middlesex County and Warren County also assisted with the execution of the search warrants.

Prosecutors said convictions on first-degree criminal charges are commonly punishable by 10 to 20 years, second-degree criminal charges are commonly punishable by 5 to 10 years, third-degree crimes can result in 3 to 5 years and fourth-degree convictions up to 18 months.