October 27, 09

NEWS / New Jersey State Trooper and Newark Man Indicted on Drug Charges

TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram announced that a New Jersey state trooper and a Newark man were indicted today on charges that they possessed heroin. The Newark man was also charged with distributing the heroin.

According to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni, Jason J. Hanrahan, 32, of Newton and Jamal Karon Bell, 33, of Newark, were each charged with third-degree possession of heroin. Bell was also charged with second-degree distribution of heroin within 500 feet of certain public property, as well as third-degree distribution of heroin and third-degree distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school property.

The state grand jury indictment alleges that on Jan. 15, Hanrahan was in possession of less than a half-ounce of heroin. An undercover investigation determined that Bell distributed the heroin to Hanrahan within 1,000 feet of the Newark Christian School and within 500 feet of Boy’s Park in Newark. Hanrahan and Bell were arrested on Jan. 15 immediately following the alleged transaction.

Hanrahan was suspended without pay on Jan. 16.

Members of the New Jersey State Police coordinated the investigation. Supervising Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades presented the case to the state grand jury.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases09/pr20091027a.html