Cop accused of running drug-dealing operation wants her job back

An East Orange cop who'd been accused of running a drug dealing operation off her home has been cleared, according to a report by NJ Advance Media.

It said Rajheher Massenburg was found not guilty of conspiracy to distribute drugs and official misconduct last week, and her attorney is looking to have Massenburg reinstated.

Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter told the News organization, "We're disappointed, but we respect the decision of the jury."

In 2014, an Essex County grand jury returned a 21-count indictment alleging Massenburg, then 35, of East Orange, and two others ran a drug operation. It said that on eight different occasions from October to December of 2013,
undercover detectives purchased narcotics from Andrew Jones, who allegedly operated out of and stored narcotics at Massenburg’s North Maple Avenue home i

The prosecutor's office said a raid on the home led to the recovery of a quantity of crack cocaine packaged for distribution, and paraphernalia indicating that cocaine was being packaged on the property among other items. Also accused in the operation was Wendy Rhea. Charges against Jones and Rhea are still pending.

"Throughout this ordeal, Rajheher Massenberg maintained her innocence, rejecting plea negotiations and electing to go to trial, facing (the possibility of) five year mandatory imprisonment without parole on these charges," attorney Charles Sciarra told NJ Advance Media, according to its report. He alleged the charges were a matter of retaliation for a lawsuit Massenburg had filed against the department.