The leader of an opioid mill located in Paterson has been sentenced to 10-years in state prions for maintaining a controlled dangerous substance facility, which is a first-degree offense, one he pleaded guilty to back in November of 2021.

Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that 35-year old Rafael Brito, aka “Chiquito,” was charged following an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and Paterson Police, when over 17,000 wax folds of heroin and fentanyl were seized in a takedown after detectives discovered an active opioid mill in the basement.

Brito's girlfriend, Rosanny Prado, 38, of Paterson, N.J. was also arrested on March 3, 2020, at their residence.

There were several kinds of drugs, or "Ink Stamps", which were labeled based on how many overdoses you wanted to ensure.

Acting Attorney Platin said that Ink stamps were seized during the takedown which had brand names linked to 10 fatal and 8 non-fatal overdoses.

- “Empire” (4 fatal, 5 nonfatal overdoses).

- “Panda” (3 fatal overdoses).

- “100%” (2 fatal overdoses).

- “777” (1 fatal overdose).

- “Bat” (1 nonfatal overdose).

- “BEE” (1 nonfatal overdose).

- “Call Me” (1 nonfatal overdose).

Prado previously pleaded guilty to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and then was admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention program.

Acting AG Platkin said that Deputy Attorney General Anna Gildea prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Cynthia Vazquez, Bureau Chief Lauren Scarpa Yfantis, and DCJ Deputy Director Annmarie Taggart.

“Let this sentence serve as a warning for drug traffickers who bring these dangerous substances into our communities,” Acting Attorney General Platkin said in a statement. “We will continue to disrupt the opioid market in cities throughout New Jersey through collaborative investigations with local police and our law enforcement partners across the state.”

“Stopping criminals who fuel the supply of opioids in New Jersey’s communities is a top priority for the Division of Criminal Justice,” Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice said in a statement. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting narcotics traffickers who profit from the suffering and struggling of our residents.”

Defense Attorneys:

For Rafael Brito: Krenar Camilli, Esq., Little Falls, N.J.

For Rosanny Prado: Michael Krawitz, Esq., Paterson, N.J.

Here are New Jersey's Most Wanted Criminals

More From 92.7 WOBM