Bergen County Resident Pleads Guilty to Major Heroin Distribution Charge

Cliffside Park man admits to dealing in heroin, faces significant prison time and fines.

In a recent development in Newark federal court, Dawan A. Brown, a 37-year-old resident of Cliffside Park in Bergen County, New Jersey, acknowledged his involvement in heroin trafficking. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Brown's guilty plea, which related to the possession and intent to distribute a substantial quantity of heroin.

Brown, also known as “DB,” admitted in court to possessing with the intent to distribute over 100 grams of a mixture containing heroin. This admission pertains to an incident on June 14, 2021, in Harrison, New Jersey. Following his arrest, authorities confiscated items from Brown's residence, including suspected drug-related proceeds and jewelry. Brown agreed to forfeit a significant sum of $436,616, acknowledged as proceeds from his narcotics dealings.

The gravity of Brown's offense is reflected in the potential penalties. The minimum sentence for this narcotics crime is five years in prison, but it could extend up to 40 years. Additionally, he faces a fine as high as $5 million. The sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2024.

The successful investigation leading to Brown's guilty plea is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the FBI in Newark, led by Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; the Harrison Police Department, headed by Chief Ronald Cuney; and the Cliffside Park Police Department, led by Chief Marc Marano.

Handling the case for the government are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Frazer of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit and Dong Joo Lee of the Narcotics/Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit, based in Newark.

It is essential to remember that Brown's guilty plea marks an admission of his criminal activities and sets the stage for his upcoming sentencing.