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, often known 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 a press release 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 news release from Ciccone’s workplace.
The sting operation discovered that an alumnus of Rutgers created a non-public social media community the place “narcotics distributors may put up menus for medication and solicit consumers from throughout the Rutgers University group.”
Rutgers college students who established their affiliation with the varsity have been allowed to affix the community, browse the “menus,” and speak to distributors to barter drug purchases.
Officials charged Anudeep Revuri, a 23-year-old from North Brunswick, with one depend of first-degree chief of a drug trafficking community; two counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution; and one depend of third-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution. Revuri’s profile on LinkedIn reveals 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 varied 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 “energetic and persevering with.” She inspired anybody with details about the case to contact her workplace’s narcotics activity pressure. She added that the costs in opposition to all seven individuals have been “merely accusations, and they’re presumed harmless till confirmed responsible.”
