PATERSON – Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi announced today the arrests of five individuals that resulted in the recovery of two handguns and a significant amount of narcotics following a surveillance investigation conducted by Paterson Police Department Detectives.
On July 6, 2023 detectives were conducting surveillance in the vicinity of Braun Street and Marshall Street. They identified Joshua Sari of Haledon and Jeremy Rodriguez of Paterson as making a number of drug transactions in the area. Detectives stopped Rodriguez in his vehicle, and found 130 glassines of heroin. During the stop detectives noticed two other men, identified later as Mark Gadson of Wayne and James Williams of Paterson, trying to push something under the seat. A search of the car yielded a 9mm handgun. Sari was pulled over a short time later and found to be in possession of 20 Xanax pills and a 9mm handgun with a large-capacity magazine. Joshua Maldonado of Paterson was also arrested in the investigation and found to be in the possession of 15 bags of cocaine.
“Thanks to the great police work done by our detectives two guns are off the streets, preventing future instances of gun violence and tragedies associated with them,” said Officer in Charge Abbassi. “I want to commend these detectives and their supervisors for making the city of Paterson safer and taking these guns and drugs off our streets.”
All together over the course of this investigation, two handguns, cocaine, Xanax and heroin were recovered. Detectives also seized $7,593 in what is believed to be proceeds of narcotics sales.
These arrests come weeks after a Paterson man was arrested on drug possession charges and city police seized over $100,000 worth of narcotics in connection with an alleged drug distribution scheme out of a residence on Chadwick Street, close to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.
Joshua Sari is charged with possession of 20 Xanax pills, possession with intent to distribute and intent to distribute within 500 feet of a school, and unlawful possession of a weapon, a second-degree crime. Jeremy Rodriguez is charged with possession of 130 glassines of heroin, possession with intent to distribute and intent to distribute within 500 feet of a school. Joshua Maldonado is charged with possession of 15 bags of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute and intent to distribute within 500 feet of a school, all of which are third-degree crimes. Mark Gadson and James Williams are both charged with unlawful Possession of a handgun a second-degree crime.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes can carry a prison sentence of three to five years and a $15,000 fine.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
