Lawrence Woman Allegedly Caught with Illegal 'Shrooms'

Lauren Garofalo, a 21-year-old Lawrence Township resident, was one of two people arrested Thursday (March 22) in Montgomery Township and charged with possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to distribute and other drug-related offenses, according to authorities.

Details about the arrests were contained in the following news release issued by Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office:

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Stuart Buckman and Montgomery Township Police Director Robert Palmer announce the arrests of David Bohr (age 19) of Farrell Avenue, Ewing, N.J., and Lauren Garofalo (age 21) of Fairview Terrace, Lawrenceville, N.J.

Prosecutor Soriano states that the Somerset County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force received information that defendant Bohr would be in the area of a restaurant located off of U.S. Highway 206. He would be traveling as a passenger of a small red vehicle, and he would be in possession of a quantity of psilocybin mushrooms and lysergic diethylamide (LSD).

On March 22, 2012 at approximately 4:15 p.m., task force detectives, along with members of the Montgomery Police Department, set up a surveillance in the area of the restaurant. Detectives observed a red Hyudai Elantra parked in the restaurant parking lot. The vehicle was operated by female later identified as defendant Garofalo, and defendant Bohr was the front seat passenger. 

Detectives approached the vehicle and requested that both defendants exit same. As defendant Bohr stepped out of the vehicle, a shopping bag fell off his lap and onto the ground. The bag contained psilocybin mushrooms and a quantity of suspected imitation LSD known as 25INBOMe.

Defendant Bohr was placed under arrest. Defendant Bohr voluntarily gave permission to detectives to search his backpack that was on the front passenger floor area.  Defendant Garofalo also gave detectives permission to search her vehicle.

Task force detectives seized Bohr’s backpack which contained numerous empty plastic bags, a quantity of marijuana (under 50 grams), a digital scale and a marijuana grinder. Detectives also seized an additional bag of psilocybin mushrooms that was inside the vehicle. A marijuana smoking pipe was found in defendant Garofalo’s purse.

The psilocybin mushrooms seized have an estimated street value of $2,000.00. 

Defendant Bohr was charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (psilocybin mushrooms) with the Intent to Distribute, second degree,  Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (marijuana) under 50 grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.

Defendant Garofalo was charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (psilocybin mushrooms) with the Intent to Distribute, second degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense. 

Both defendants were lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set by the Honorable Paul W. Armstrong, J.S.C., at $75,000.00 cash only for defendant Bohr, and $50,000.00 cash or bond for defendant Garofalo.

Note:  We are required by the Rules of Court to include herein a statement explaining that the charges are merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.