Seven individuals have been arrested and charged in reference to an alleged social media drug ring at Rutgers University, authorities introduced this week.
The sweeping undercover narcotics operation, referred to as “Operation RU Pharm,” uncovered a “closed and personal social media community utilized by Rutgers University college students to promote and buy” medication, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone stated in an announcement Thursday.
Authorities seized a considerable amount of marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall, Xanax, “a considerable amount of U.S. forex,” and a firearm, in line with a information launch from Ciccone’s workplace.
The sting operation discovered that an alumnus of Rutgers created a personal social media community the place “narcotics distributors might put up menus for medication and solicit consumers from throughout the Rutgers University group.”
Rutgers college students who established their affiliation with the college have been allowed to hitch the community, browse the “menus,” and get in touch with distributors to barter drug purchases.
Officials charged Anudeep Revuri, a 23-year-old from North Brunswick, with one rely of first-degree chief of a drug trafficking community; two counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution; and one rely of third-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution. Revuri’s profile on LinkedIn exhibits he graduated from the college in 2022.
Six different individuals — Joshua Duffy, 20; Zachary Petersen, 22; Catherine Tierney, 23; David Nudelman, 20; Donovin Williams, 20; and Noa Lisimachio, 21 — have been charged with numerous levels of possession and distribution of managed substances.
Rutgers spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Saturday.
Ciccone, the Middlesex County prosecutor, stated the investigation is “lively and persevering with.” She inspired anybody with details about the case to contact her workplace’s narcotics process pressure. She added that the fees in opposition to all seven individuals have been “merely accusations, and they’re presumed harmless till confirmed responsible.”