the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Teaneck NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of CARLOS JOSE CRUZ-PENA (DOB: 10/21/1988; single; employed at a pharmacy) of 1307 Edward A. Grant Highway, Bronx, NY on charges of possession with the intent to distribute prescription legend drugs. The arrest is the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.
On August 2, 2022, an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force revealed that CARLOS CRUZ-PENA was transporting prescription legend drugs, packaged for sale, through Bergen County. During this investigation, a search was conducted on his vehicle in Teaneck, NJ, which revealed an aftermarket electronic hidden compartment. Inside the compartment, detectives located several hundred prescription pills packaged for sale. CRUZ-PENA was placed under arrest without incident at the scene.
CARLOS CRUZ-PENA was charged with second-degree possession with the intent to distribute prescription legend drugs, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10.5a(4); and third-degree possession with the intent to distribute schedule IV drugs, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(13). CRUZ-PENA was transported to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.