Investigation leads to arrest on drugs and weapons offenses

Published June, 2, 2009

An Atlantic City man was charged today with drug and weapons offenses after a four-month investigation resulted in the recovery of drugs, money and firearms, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel stated in a press release Tuesday.

Armando Tavares, 32, of 2630 Atlantic Avenue, was initially arrested April 17 after police executed a search warrant at his residence. He was charged with possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, possession of CDS with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute in a public zone.

Tavares was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $175,000 cash or bond bail. He remains in the county jail in lieu of bail.

During the course of the investigation law enforcement officials recovered 143 bags of heroin, 20 grams of cocaine, 62 grams of crack cocaine, 40 Ecstasy pills, under 50 grams of marijuana and three firearms.

Tavares was served at the Atlantic County Justice Facility with additional charges related to controlled dangerous substances, the illegal transfer of firearms and possession of firearms while in the course of committing a drug offense. Additional bail was set at $150,000 full cash.

The investigation was conducted by Detective James Scoppa, Jr. of the Prosecutor’s Shooting Response Team. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Atlantic City, Northfield and Egg Harbor Township Police Departments assisted.