Wayne Felon Admits To Several Drug And Gun Charges

WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne man has admitted to several drug and gun charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Luis Polanco, 35, pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to officials.

The charges stem from an investigation of Polanco on suspicion that he was dealing drugs from his Passaic residence.

Investigators searched Polanco, his residence, and his car and found 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin, as well as “other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs,” authorities said.

In addition to the drugs, police found a 9-millimeter pistol, more than 150 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition, and four rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, according to officials.

He was arrested and charged immediately after police recovered the drugs and gun.

Officials said Polanco faces a maximum of 60 years in prison following the indictment. He also faces a maximum fee of $5 million for the drug charge alone.

He is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 21.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to “repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”