Trenton Man on Parole for Conviction in 2007 Murder Charged With Possession of Heroin

The Mercer County Special Investigations Unit conducted its first investigation since the merger with the Trenton Police Department’s Vice Unit last week, seizing $28,500 in heroin, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. announced on Thursday.

Jerome “Righteous” Roberts, 42, of Trenton, was charged with possession of heroin, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Roberts is still on parole following his conviction in 2007 in connection with the murder of rival drug dealer Robert Priester, Bocchini said. According to Bocchini, Roberts admitted to hiring two men from Long Branch to shoot Priester.

Following his apprehension on Thursday, Roberts was lodged in the Mercer County Correction Center in lieu of $150,000 full cash bail conditioned upon a source hearing.

“One job at a time, one drug dealer at a time, that is how we are going to help make a difference on the streets,” Bocchini said in a prepared statement. 

Police, under the direction of Lt. Mike Novembre, went to Roberts’s home on the 700 block of Division Street at about 12:40 p.m. Thursday after receiving information he was distributing large amounts of heroin out of his home.

Police apprehended Roberts on his porch without incident before searching the residence, Bocchini said. They recovered 57 bricks of heroin from a large black bag behind a couch in the living room, Bocchini said. They also found $590 in cash, Bocchini said.

According to Novembre, the bricks equaled 2,850 bags, worth about $28,500 on the street.

Bocchini thanked all of the agencies who had a hand in the joint effort, including the prosecutor’s office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police TEMS unit, and the Trenton, Ewing, Hamilton and Lawrence police departments.