"NOT JUST YOUR ORDINARY BAG OF CHIPS!!!"

On July 15, 2004 the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and the New Brunswick Police Department culminated an investigation that resulted in the arrest of three (3) individuals, the seizure of approximately twelve (12) ounces of cocaine along with the seizure of smaller amounts of marijuana, psilocybin, L.S.D. and opium.

The evening began with the execution of a Superior Court search warrant at 139 Somerset Street, 1st floor, New Brunswick. Seized from the residence was ninety-three (93) gram bags of cocaine, six (6) bags of marijuana, ½ -ounce of psilocybin, ten (10) “hits” of LSD and 1/8-ounce of “alleged” opium. Arrested at the residence were Luke Atwell and Timothy Prunyi who both resided at the 139 Somerset Street location.

Pursuant to this search warrant, arrangements were made for Atwell’s cocaine supplier to deliver two hundred (200) grams of cocaine to the parking lot of the Hamilton Laundromat in the City of New Brunswick. As arranged, a short time later Christian Roman of 228 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ arrived in the parking lot of the laundromat where police met him. When searched by police, a large bulge that made what officers described as a “crinkling sound” was felt around the inner thigh area of Roman’s right pant leg. Upon shaking Roman’s pant leg, a “Wise” barbeque potato chip bag fell out of his pants and found inside the potato chip bag was approximately two-hundred grams of cocaine.

Once at New Brunswick P.D. headquarters Christian Roman gave consent for the search of his residence 228 Somerset Street floor 2. Found inside the residence was an additional forty grams of cocaine, a digital scale and owe sheets.

Christian Roman told authorities that he had recently witnessed New Brunswick Patrol Units in pursuit of a vehicle and further witnessed the occupants of the vehicle throw a bag out the passenger side window. The bag contained the two hundred grams of cocaine that was found on his person and this was the first time he (Roman) had ever been involved with cocaine. Roman went on to add that he (Roman) had a buyer for the two hundred grams but was going to sell it to the buyer for whatever the buyer thought it was worth.

Atwell was charged with possession with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute for the cocaine and possession of marijuana.

Prunyi was charged with possession of marijuana, psilocybin, LSD, and Opium. (It should be noted that Prunyi was recently dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Navy for distribution of LSD on a Naval boat.)

Roman was charged with possession with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within a school zone for the cocaine.

The NJNEOA congratulates Sergeant Dan Muntone, Lieutenant Paul Schuster and the officers of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and New Brunswick Police Anti-Crime Unit on an outstanding co-operative investigation.