Seven Wayne 20-Somethings Arrested on Drug Charges, Report Says

Seven Wayne residents in their early 20s were arrested in connection with a Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office investigation into a Paterson-based drug ring, NorthJersey.com reported.

Earlier this week, the Prosecutor’s Office announced Fidel Gonzalez, 31, of Paterson was arrested and charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network during a six-month investigation beginning in November of last year, authorities said.

According to NorthJersey.com, authorities said “numerous” Wayne residents traveled from the township to Paterson to buy Oxycodone pills from the drug ring.

Tyler Galione, 22, Mark Tucker, 21, Timothy Lindstrom, 23, Robert Elk, 22, Keir Bowers, 23, Andrew Alain, 21, and Steven Cerqueira, 22, all of Wayne, were arrested Thursday on charges of drug possession, the report said. Though all were released Thursday, the charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison, the report said.

Wayne Mayor Christopher Vergano told the paper prescription drugs have been an increasing issue in the township for the past year.

The Passaic County investigation resulted initially in the arrest of 12 people accused of running the drug ring, authorities said.