Cape May County Prosecutor Releases Operation Dreamchaser Indictment
Friday, August 28, 2015
Cape May Court House, New Jersey - Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor announced that on August 25, 2015, the Cape May County Grand Jury returned an Indictment in connection with the “Operation Dreamchaser” investigation, a several month long large-scale narcotics investigation initiated in January 2015 by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force, culminating in the execution of numerous arrests and search warrants throughout Cape May County on May 7, 2015.
The Indictment charges the following:
Javier Alicia-Garcia with Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network, first degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-3;
Javier Alicia-Garcia, Ariel Rodriguez, Gadiel J. Santiago, and Melissa Lyston with Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, first degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(b)(1);
Gadiel J. Santiago with Possession of a Firearm While Committing a Certain Controlled Dangerous Substance Crime, 2nd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1(a), Certain Person Not to Have Weapons, 2nd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7, and Prohibited Devices, 4th degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f);
Gadiel J. Santiago, Vicente Alicea-Garcia, and Rafael Delgado with Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 2nd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(b)(2);
Javier Alicia-Garcia, Vicente Alicea-Garcia, Ariel Rodriguez, Gadiel J. Santiago, Melissa Lyston, Michael Kendrick, David Fessler, David A. Butler, Shawn M. Peterson, Joel Candelaria, Rafael Delgado, Janelle B. Lyston, Mario
Pagan-Perez, Norman A. Rosario-Mastache, Juan Rodriguez-Roman, Christine V. Pagan, and Alvin Mercado-Osorio with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 2nd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1) and Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 3rd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2 and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(1); and
Shawn Peterson and David Fessler with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 3rd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(b)(3) and Jamie L. Krail with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 3rd degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(1).
Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking network carries a mandatory penalty, if convicted, of life imprisonment with a 25 year period of parole ineligibility. First degree crimes carry a penalty of between 10 and 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. Second degree crimes carry a penalty of between 5 and 10 years. Third degree crimes carry a penalty of between 3 and 5 years.
As a direct result of this investigation, approximately 21.5 ounces of heroin which is the equivalent of over 20,000 bags with a street value of in excess of $305,000 dollars, and approximately 4 ounces of cocaine with a street value of approximately $5,600, were seized. A total of $ 348,903 in United States currency was also seized. In addition, 10 firearms, 3 of which were handguns were seized along with 25 vehicles and two residential properties, 2724 Route 9, Ocean View and 211 Apple Blossom Road, North Cape May. Complaints will be filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey seeking forfeiture of the cash, vehicles and residences.
Once again, Prosecutor Taylor commends the outstanding efforts of the all of the agencies involved and thanks the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and all of the local law enforcement agencies that assisted in this investigation.