OFFICE OF THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR

MERCER COUNTY COURT HOUSE P.O. BOX 8068 TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08650-0068 PHONE: (609) 989-6350 (609) 989-6305 FAX #: (609) 989-0161

JOSEPH L. BOCCHINI, JR.

Prosecutor

JANETTA D. MARBREY

First Assistant Prosecutor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2012

CONTACT: Casey A. DeBlasio (609) 989-6379

SIU Investigation Yields Cocaine, Cash and Guns

Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. announced that a two-month investigation conducted by his Special Investigations Unit (SIU), under the command of Lt. Mike Novembre, led to the arrest of one individual, and the seizure of approximately $2,300 in narcotics, $20,500 in cash and two loaded handguns. Bocchini stated that Wednesday at approximately 9 a.m., officers observed 46-year-old Kurtist Pickett in his Jeep Liberty on Spring Street in Trenton and conducted a motor vehicle stop. Pickett was detained and search warrants of his residence, vehicle and person were executed by SIU, the New Jersey State Police TEAMS Unit, the Mercer County Sheriffs Office, the Ewing Police Department and the Hamilton Police Department. A search of Picketts apartment in the 300 block of Concord Avenue, Ewing, revealed approximately 20 grams of crack cocaine, packaged for distribution, inside of a false-bottomed container in a kitchen cabinet. Two loaded handguns, a .25 Beretta and a .38 Special Smith & Wesson, were located on the bedroom floor next to the bed. Both weapons were found to be stolen out of Pennsylvania. Officers also seized cash totaling $20,310 from a drawer above the bed. A smaller, additional quantity of cash was found in another bedroom drawer. Cash totaling $157 was found on Pickett along with approximately three and a half grams of crack cocaine packaged for distribution. Pickett was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park, possession with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of a firearm while committing a narcotics offense, certain persons not to possess weapons, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Picketts bail was set at $250,000 cash only with a bail source hearing. He is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center. Novembre stated that the seized cocaine has an approximate street value of $2,300. Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###