January 18, 10

NEWS / Two Camden Men Sentenced to Prison on First-Degree Cocaine Charges

TRENTON - Acting Attorney General Ricardo Solano Jr. and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that two Camden men were sentenced to prison today on first-degree cocaine charges as a result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police that led to the seizure of more than two kilograms of cocaine.

According to Director Gramiccioni, Jose Olavarria, 36, of Camden, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, including six years without possibility of parole, by Superior Court Judge Irvin J. Snyder in Camden County. Olavarria pleaded guilty on Oct. 2 to first-degree distribution of cocaine.

In addition, Judge Snyder sentenced Willie Taylor, 30, of Camden, to nine years in state prison, including three years without possibility of parole. Taylor pleaded guilty on Oct. 6 to first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

The charges were contained in an April 21, 2009 state grand jury indictment obtained by the Division of Criminal Justice. An investigation by the State Police Street Gangs South Unit revealed that Taylor was dealing cocaine from the clubhouse of the Wheels of Soul Motorcycle Club on Princess Avenue in Camden. Taylor, a club member, obtained cocaine from Olavarria.

Deputy Attorney General Jill Mayer prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. The investigation was led by Detective Michael Flory of the New Jersey State Police Street Gangs South Unit.

The State Police arrested Taylor and Olavarria in the early morning hours of Aug. 24, 2007. Detectives stopped Taylor’s car as he left Olavarria’s house on Kaighns Avenue, where he bought two kilograms of cocaine from Olavarria. Detectives executed a search warrant for the car and found approximately two kilograms of cocaine (71 ounces). Two kilograms of cocaine have a street value of over $50,000. Olavarria was arrested shortly after Taylor as he left his house. Detectives executed a search warrant at Olavarria’s house and found 7 ounces of cocaine, a .380-caliber handgun loaded with hollow point bullets, and a 9 mm handgun.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases10/pr20100115c.html