A North Brunswick man faces drug charges after being arrested when he tried to sell cocaine to an undercover detective.
Juan Jose' Morales-Bustos (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)FRANKLIN -- A North Brunswick man has been arrested as part of a sting operation during which he allegedly sold nearly $35,000 worth of cocaine to an undercover detective, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.
Juan Jose' Morales-Bustos, 28, has been charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, third-degree possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly-persons offense.
Morales-Bustos is being held in the Somerset County Jail on $200,000 cash-only bail, according to the prosecutor's office.
An undercover detective assigned to the Somerset County's Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force allegedly purchased 22 grams of cocaine from Morales-Bustos during a meeting in a Route 27 restaurant parking lot at 8 p.m. on Dec. 4, according to the release.
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The same undercover reportedly bought cocaine from Morales-Bustos on five subsequent occasions in the same parking lot between Dec. 4 and Feb. 10. A total of 165 grams of cocaine was purchased over that time, according to the release.
On Feb. 12, when the undercover detective allegedly purchased another 160 grams of cocaine from Morales-Bustos, additional detectives moved in and arrested Morales-Bustos, it was stated in the release.
The approximate street value of the cocaine seized in the string operation was $34,700, according to the prosecutor's office.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.