11 From Middlesex, Union Charged In Major Heroin, Fentanyl Bust

EDISON, NJ — An Edison man and 10 others were charged for their involvement in a large-scale drug distribution ring that operated in Middlesex and Union counties, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced on Wednesday night.

Terrence Barker, 37, of Edison was charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network as well as promoting organized street crime among other charges.

Prosecutors said Barker rammed his vehicle into an Edison Police vehicle, causing "bodily injury" to an officer, as authorities tried to take him into custody. The officer was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

Authorities recovered over two kilograms of suspected cocaine, more than 1 kilogram of suspected heroin, approximately 149 grams of fentanyl, 70 grams of Oxycodone, one loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and over $120,000 in suspected drug proceeds, according to a Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office press release.

The following people were arrested along with Barker and charged with various drug distribution-related offenses, the prosecutor’s office said:

• Jermaine Pennant, 36, Plainfield
• Henry Alvin II, 35, of Plainfield
• Rukaiyah Green, 31, Edison
• Shawn Heyward, 32, of Piscataway
• Brianna Thompson, 27, Springfield
• Francois Skyers, 33, South Plainfield
• Larry Lowery, 31, Plainfield
• Michael Lowery, 36, Dunellen
• Umoja Fortney, 25, Piscataway
• Cheyenne Floyd, 28, Springfield

Barker, Alvin and Michael Lowery were detained following a detention hearing in the Middlesex County Superior Court on Tuesday and Larry Lowery and Jermaine Pennant have yet to be arrested, said a media release.

According to Ciccone, the investigation was conducted by the Narcotics Task Force of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the Edison and Piscataway Police Departments.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Sergeant Erik Larsen of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-5977.

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