Accused Dealer Charged In NJ Man's Drug Overdose Death: Officials

PATERSON, NJ — After a 37-year-old man died of an apparent drug overdose at a private home in Bergen County, a Paterson resident has been charged with fentanyl distribution and "strict liability" for his death.

Rochelle Park Police arrived to a private residence on Rochelle Avenue just after 9:45 a.m. on July 10, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Someone had called 911 to report an unconscious and unresponsive male in the home, officials said.

Paramedics arrived and pronounced the man, identified as James A. Mara, dead at the scene.

"Indicators of a possible drug overdose were noted, and detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force were notified," officials said.

Mara's co-workers at Yusen Logistics in Secaucus praised him as "a pleasure to work with" and "a great leader" in tributes under his obituary. Prosecutors continued investigating his death and "the related drug activity," and said they identified 29-year-old Raequann Reid of Paterson as the suspect.

Officials determined that Mara had ingested suspected fentanyl before he died, and said Reid "distributed the fatal dose of narcotics to the victim causing his death."

Investigators executed a search warrant at Reid's home on Thursday, July 25 and charged him with first-degree strict liability in a drug-induced death, and five counts of third-degree distribution of fentanyl.

Officials took him to the Bergen County Jail, pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

Patch's Caren Lissner contributed to this report.