PARSIPPANY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announced that a Morris County Jury found Juan E. Liranzo, 33, Bayside, New York, guilty of one count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine), one count of second-degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine), and one count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine). The jury returned its verdict after deliberating on Tuesday, May 8 and part of Wednesday, May 9. The Honorable Salem V. Ahto, J.S.C. presided over the trial.
This prosecution stemmed from the arrest of Mr. Liranzo in November 2015 by Narcotics Task Force Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and members of the Parsippany Police Department. A kilogram of cocaine was located and seized from a concealed compartment in a vehicle belonging to the defendant. The street value of the seized narcotics was valued at $36,000.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison on the first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute verdict, up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison on the second-degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute verdict, and up to five years in New Jersey State Prison on the third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance verdict.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury and Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Fiorentino, assigned to the Special Enforcement Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, represented the State during the trial.
Prosecutor Knapp stated, “I would like to thank the jury for its service to the community and all of our law enforcement partners for removing such a large quantity of illegal drugs from the streets”.
Prosecutor Knapp would specifically like to thank Chief Andrew Miller of the Parsippany Police Department for his department’s involvement in the investigation, the Narcotics Task Force of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Task Force Officer George Tsimpedes and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Detective/Supervisor Thomas Joiner.
This matter is scheduled for sentencing before the Honorable Salem V. Ahto, J.S. C. on Thursday, June 7, 2018.
