NEWARK — A Newark man admitted in federal court Wednesday that he conspired with others to sell large amounts of heroin around downtown Newark. Jarez Baron, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, according to prosecutors. Baron and others sold "large quantities" of...
NEWARK -- A Newark man admitted in federal court Wednesday that he conspired with others to sell large amounts of heroin around downtown Newark.
Jarez Baron, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, according to prosecutors.
Baron and others sold "large quantities" of heroin and oxycodone out of a downtown Newark store called Ballas Boutique between February and August 2013, said the office of U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.
Baron and others sold drugs out of the store more than 35 times to a confidential informant, according to court records. Most of those sales, prosecutors said, were audio and video recorded.
The recordings revealed that Baron and others sold drugs for Lamont Vaughn, also of Newark, according to court records.
New dad sentenced for heroin sales
Vaughn was arrested in 2013 and charged with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and oxycodone after a search of his home recovered dozens of oxycodone pills, firearms and a large amount of cash, prosecutors said.
Vaughn pleaded guilty June 22 to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and oxycodone and to being a felon in possession of two firearms, Fishman's office said. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 5, court records say.
The conspiracy charge Baron faces carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, Fishman's office said.
Baron is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 21.
Fishman credited special agents from the FBI and the New Jersey State Police's Street Gangs North unit for the investigation leading to the arrests and guilty plea.
Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.