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Twp of Washington NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of MICHAEL D. ROSEN (DOB: 3/23/1988; single; unemployed) of 5 Sutton Way, Township of Washington, NJ on charges of Possession Of Child Pornography, Possession Of Controlled Dangerous Substances, and Distribution Of Controlled Dangerous Substances. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Township of Washington Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Skinner.
In July 2020, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force identified MICHAEL D. ROSEN as a person engaged in the possession and distribution of narcotics using the Internet. Subsequently, and on multiple occasions, ROSEN distributed Crystal Methamphetamine to an undercover detective. He was arrested on August 14, 2020 in the Township of Washington, and detectives recovered Crystal Methamphetamine, Xanax, and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (“GHB”), as well as drug paraphernalia.
As a result of the investigation, on August 14, 2020, MICHAEL D. ROSEN was charged with one count of Possession With Intent To Distribute Crystal Methamphetamine, in an amount greater than 1⁄2 ounce, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35- 5b(9)(a), a 2nd degree crime; one count of Possession With Intent To Distribute Crystal Methamphetamine, in an amount less than 1⁄2 ounce, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35- 5b(9)(b), a 3rd degree crime; one count of Possession Of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10.2, a 3rd degree crime; one count of Possession Of A Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely Xanax, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), a
3rd degree crime; and one count of Possession With Intent To Distribute Drug Paraphernalia, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-3, a 4th degree crime. ROSEN was remanded to the Bergen County Jail but released pending further action by the Court.
Approximately two weeks later, on September 1, 2020, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force identified MICHAEL D. ROSEN in another narcotics transaction in the Township of Washington distributing Crystal Methamphetamine. ROSEN was arrested by detectives and charged with Conspiracy To Distribute A Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely Crystal Methamphetamine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5/2C:5-2, a 2nd degree crime. ROSEN was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, but released pending further action by the Court.
During that same time, detectives from the Cyber Crimes Unit began a months- long investigation that revealed MICHAEL D. ROSEN used the Internet to view, download, or possess approximately 4,618 digital files depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent children on at least two of his electronic devices.
As a result of the child pornography investigation, MICHAEL D. ROSEN was arrested on Thursday, January 7, 2021 in Paramus, NJ and charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography, greater than 1,000 files, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24- 4(b)5(b)ii, a 2nd degree crime. ROSEN was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
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. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Township of Washington Police Department for its assistance, as well as the Lyndhurst Police Department which participates in the Bergen County Cyber Crimes Task Force.