Father, Son Among Three Indicted in Edgewater Heroin Bust

Three men were indicted this week on charges stemming from a state police search that uncovered two kilograms of heroin at an Edgewater home, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Two Houston men, Hoover Rodriguez, 66, Miguel Angel Guzman-Nieves, 49, and his son 26-year-old Jonathan Antistian Jackson, of Edgewater, face charges of first-degree possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, third-degree possession of heroin, second-degree conspiracy and third-degree money laundering, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

The charges came following a March 7 stop when state police detectives pulled over the trio on the New Jersey Turnpike in Hamilton, prosecutors said. Investigators learned the men were using Jackson’s home and Cadillac STS in connection with drug trafficking.

Troopers found $34,950 in cash after getting consent to search the Cadillac, prosecutors said. Another search by state police turned up the heroin in a bag at Jackson’s River Road residence.

If convicted, the men could face 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on the first-degree charge, five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000 on the second degree charge, three to five years in prison and fines up to $35,000 for the possession charge and $500,000 for the money laundering charge, according to prosecutors.

Officials also launched civil action seeking forfeiture of the Cadillac and seized cash.