12 arrested on drugs, weapons, child endangerment charges in Central Jersey

Authorities say 12 people were arrested in connection with drug and weapons charges as well as child endangerment following a narcotics investigation in Somerset County.

Police seized two handguns, marijuana, cocaine and heroin with a street value of $9,120 in the May 6 raid, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. Authorities say the following arrests were made:

• Isaiah Wilson, 24, of Bound Brook; two second-degree counts of certain persons not to possess a firearm, two counts of second-degree possession of a firearm during a drug offense, two second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree of unlawful possession of a firearm, third-degree distribution of heroin, third-degree possession with intent to distribute heroin, third-degree possession of drugs, fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm and two fourth-degree counts of possession of hollow point bullets; $100,000 cash only bail.
• Cecilia Nieves, 29, of Bound Brook; two second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child and third degree possession of heroin; $50,000 bail cash or bond.
• Juan Gomez, 32, of Bound Brook; second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm; $50,000 bail, 10 percent to apply.
• Jake Reese, 25, of Somerville; third-degree possession of cocaine and third-degree possession of heroin; $10,000 bail cash or bond.
• Cortney Healey, 31, of Bound Brook; two second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child and third degree possession of heroin; $50,000 bail cash or bond.
• MaLike Greenway, 19, of Bound Brook; third-degree possession of heroin.
• Earl Esaw, 22, of Springfield; third-degree possession of heroin; $5,000 bail 10 percent to apply.
• Najih Jones, 23, of Edison; third-degree possession of heroin; $5,000 bail 10 percent to apply.
• Raekwon Johnson, 20, of South Bound Brook; third-degree possession of heroin; $5,000 bail, 10 percent to apply.
• Luz Hernandez, 34, of Plainfield; third-degree hindering the apprehension of another; $1,500 bail, 10 percent to apply.
• Sam Forman, 20, of Somerville; possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense; released on his own recognizance;
• John Reilly, 41, of Bridgewater; possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, a disorderly persons offense; released on his own recognizance.

Police say at about 6 p.m. Friday, Somerset County detectives observed Isiah Wilson conducting a "hand-to-hand transaction" with the driver of a gold Honda Accord. The driver was identified as Najih Jones. The car was parked in front of Wilson’s home in Bound Brook. Authorities say Wilson then went inside the residence.

Jones allegedly drove off with defendants Sam Forman and John Reilly in the vehicle. He was then pulled over by police and as they approached the car, they say they saw 10 folds of suspected heroin on the ground near the driver's side door.  A search of the vehicle revealed a bag of suspended marijuana as well, police said. All three occupants were arrested.

As the arrests were taking place, the Prosecutor's Office said additional detectives executed a search warrant of Wilson's home. When they entered, they found Wilson, along with Jake Reese, Earl Esaw, MaLike Greenway and Raekwon Johnson "in a family room area."

Two additional defendants identified as Cecilia Nieves and Cortney Healey, were seen "running from the kitchen to a back porch area' with two children in tow, authorities said. Police said two more children were found on a back porch of the residence and a defendant identified as Luz Hernandez was hiding in the attic.

During the course of the investigation of the home, authorities say they discovered and seized six folds of heroin in the family room and 20 more folds on the back porch area where two of the children were found.

In addition, police say they also found a red bag containing a HiPoint .40 caliber handgun loaded with hollow-point bullets hanging on the wall of a basement stairwell. Another handgun — a Glock .45 caliber also loaded with hollow-point bullets — was found in the home, inside the dresser of defendant Juan Gomez, police said.

Authorities also conducted a search of the outside of the residence and found a total of 572 folds of heroin locked in a safe, police said.

"At the time of their arrests Reese voluntarily turned over 13 baggies of cocaine and Wilson was in possession of the key to the safe and $1,130 in U.S. Currency," the Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. "The approximate street value of the heroin seized in this investigation is $9,120."

Following the incident, authorities said the children were released to the custody of family members.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.