Rutgers Students Bought, Sold Drugs On Private Social Media App: PD

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Seven Rutgers students are charged with buying and selling illegal drugs through a private social media app created by a school alum, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced Thursday.

The students used a "closed and private social media network utilized by Rutgers University students to sell and purchase narcotics," Ciccone said, noting they used the private social network to purchase marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, Adderall and Xanax.

Ciccone said it was a former Rutgers student who created the private social media site, open only to Rutgers students.

On the app, people could post menus of which drugs they had for sale. Rutgers students had to first establish their affiliation with the school before they were allowed to join the network. Once given access, they were able to browse the menus, and contact drug sellers to negotiate drug purchases.

The following seven have been arrested; some are current and former Rutgers students:

• Anudeep Revuri, 23, of North Brunswick, former Rutgers student, was charged with one count of first-degree Leader of a Drug Trafficking Network, two counts of second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Drug Distribution, and one count of third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Drug Distribution.
• Joshua Duffy, 20, of Somerset, never enrolled at Rutgers, was charged with one count of second-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, five counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, two counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, one count of third-degree Money Laundering, and one count of fourth-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia.
• Zachary Petersen, 22, of Red Bank, current Rutgers student, was charged with three counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, three counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, one count of third-degree Money Laundering, and one count of fourth-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia.
• Catherine Tierney, 23, of Shrewsbury, former Rutgers student, was charged with three counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, three counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, one count of third-degree Money Laundering, and one count of fourth-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia.
• David Nudelman, 20, of Jackson, current Rutgers student, was charged with one count of second-degree Possession of a Firearm while committing a CDS Offense, one count of second-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, one count of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, one count of fourth- Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia and one count of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance which is classified as a disorderly persons offense.
• Donovin Williams, 22, of Kingston, NY, was charged with one count of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a School Zone, three counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, three counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and one count of fourth-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia.
• Noa Lisimachio, 21, of New York, NY, never enrolled at Rutgers, was charged with third-degree Resisting Arrest and Obstruction of Justice, which is classified as a disorderly persons offense.

Ciccone said the investigation into the online drug ring lasted several months and was called “Operation RU Pharm." Anyone with information is asked to call the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force at (732) 745-3300.