CITY of HOBOKENONE POLICE PLAZA

HOBOKEN, NJ 07030-5704Kenneth F. Ferrante Telephone: (201) 420-2002 Chief of Police Facsimile: (201) 714-9415

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Chief Kenneth FerrantePHONE: 201-420-2002 OR 201-344-5034DATE: Friday, May 8, 2015 TWO MONTH HOBOKEN INVESTIGATION LEADS TO 15 ARRESTS Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante announced the arrests of 15 individuals for various narcoticsviolations in the Hoboken Housing Authority area in Hoboken. All but one of the arrests occurred on May8, 2015, while the other occurred on May 6, 2015. The arrests took place after a two-month investigationthat was performed by a collaborative effort between the Hoboken Police Narcotics Unit and the HudsonCounty Prosecutors Office Narcotics Task Force. The arrests followed multiple complaints by residents,stating that West Side Plaza, the strip mall with several restaurants and stores had been overrun by thosewho were allegedly dealing drugs in front of those stores. The investigation immediately showed an openair drug market had formed at 301 Jackson Street. The investigation also spread to several other areasaround the Hoboken Housing Authority and the City of Hoboken. "I want to thank Chief Ferrante, the Hoboken Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office,the Hudson County Sheriffs Office, NJ Transit Police, and agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency(DEA) for working together as a team on this important investigation to ensure that every Hobokenresident feels safe in their neighborhood," said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. "This investigation began inresponse to community concerns, and I thank all the residents who raised their voices about publicsafety. I am proud that under the leadership of Chief Ferrante and the Hoboken Police Department, weare working proactively and collaboratively with the community and other law enforcement agencies tokeep our community safe." Chief Kenneth Ferrante was proud of the results of this investigation and the work done by many.

I was disturbed to hear the accounts of residents explaining how West Side Plaza was no longer safe forchildren, seniors, and the rest of the good people of the Hoboken Housing Authority," said Chief Ferrante."It was also tough to be patient while the investigation took all of its necessary steps as I pleaded withresidents and store owners who were growing frustrated that we were working on it without being ableto tell them what we were doing. Tonight, West Side Plaza is much safer as many who were making thatarea unsafe have been put behind bars. Processing continues at the time of this release and the bailsrange from $50,000 to $150,000. I thank the Hoboken Narcotics Unit under the command of Capt.Charles Campbell and Sgt. Edwin Pantoja, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Task Force and theseveral other agencies that assisted our Hoboken Police Detectives and Uniformed Officers today. In myfirst six months as Chief, I have had a great experience collaborating with Hudson County ProsecutorGaetano Gregory on many issues that help the City of Hoboken and its residents and visitors.

CITY of HOBOKENONE POLICE PLAZA

HOBOKEN, NJ 07030-5704Kenneth F. Ferrante Telephone: (201) 420-2002 Chief of Police Facsimile: (201) 714-9415

During this potentially dangerous operation, the professionalism shown by all the officers and the nearperfect execution of the operation netted these 15 arrests with neither defendants nor any officerssustaining any injuries," added Ferrante. The first arrest which was part of the operation, was executed on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 atapproximately 2pm, when police arrested Orlando Martinez near his residence at 917 Clinton Street. Asearch warrant uncovered that Martinez possessed approximately five ounces of Marijuana, along withCrack Cocaine, Heroin and Steroids, and over $30,000 in cash. Martinez was arrested on 15 drug charges. The following is a list of the individuals that were arrested on May 8, 2015: 1) Kishaun Gilyard, Age 20 310 Jackson Street, Hoboken Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS Bail: $50,000 cash

2) Jarell D. Lee, Age 23 310 Jackson Street, Hoboken Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS Bail: $100,000 cash

3) Dyshawn G. Ladson 70 Bowers Street, Jersey City Distribution of CDS Bail: $100,000 cash 4) John P. Ramos, Age 42 153 Bowers Street, Jersey City Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS Bail: $125,000 Cash 5) James Fields, Age 27 97 Van Wagenen Avenue, Jersey City Distribution of CDS (Note, Fields has been arrested several times in 2015 for assaults on store ownersof West Side Plaza) Bail: $125,000 cash 6) Julio Fermaint, Age 22 410 Marshall Drive, Hoboken, Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS Bail: $75,000 cash

CITY of HOBOKENONE POLICE PLAZA

HOBOKEN, NJ 07030-5704Kenneth F. Ferrante Telephone: (201) 420-2002 Chief of Police Facsimile: (201) 714-9415

7) Stacey Johnson, Age 44 311 13th Street, Hoboken Distribution of CDS $100,000 Cash

8) Julian Braxton, Hoboken Possession of CDS 9) George Pickett Hoboken Failure to Appear Warrant 10) Larry Ladson Jersey City Motor Vehicle Warrant and Possession of CDS 11) Curtis Jefferies Hoboken Possession of CDS 12) Ray Latimer Jr, Hoboken Possession of CDS 13) Armando Roman 400 Marshall Drive, Hoboken Defiant Trespassing Released on Summons 14) Lavada Evans 1112 Jefferson Street, Hoboken Defiant Trespassing Released on Summons

The above defendants are presumed innocent on all charges until proven guilty in a court of law.