Authorities said this week that seven persons have been taken into custody and charged in relation to a purported narcotics network on social media at Rutgers University.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a statement Thursday that the extensive undercover drug operation, called Operation RU Pharm, had discovered a restricted and private social media network that Rutgers University students used to buy and sell drugs.
According to a news release from Ciccone’s office, authorities confiscated a weapon, a significant quantity of U.S. money, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall, Xanax, marijuana, LSD, and a pistol.
According to the results of the sting operation, a Rutgers graduate established a private social media network where drug dealers could post drug menus and look for customers among Rutgers University’s student body.
Students at Rutgers were permitted to join the network, peruse the menus, and get in touch with distributors to bargain for drug purchases after establishing their affiliation with the university.
Anudeep Revuri, 23, of North Brunswick, was charged by authorities with one count of first-degree leader of a drug trafficking network, two counts of second-degree conspiracy to distribute drugs, and one count of third-degree conspiracy to distribute drugs. According to Revuri’s LinkedIn profile, he received his degree in 2022.
Six other individuals The following individuals were charged with varying degrees of possession and distribution of illegal substances: Joshua Duffy, 20, Zachary Petersen, 22, Catherine Tierney, 23, David Nudelman, 20, Donovin Williams, 20, and Noa Lisimachio, 21.
A request for comment on Saturday was not immediately answered by Rutgers representatives.
The inquiry is ongoing, according to Middlesex County prosecutor Ciccone. She urged the narcotics task force in her office to be contacted by anyone with information regarding the crime. All seven individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, she continued, adding that the charges against them were only accusations.
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