Motor Vehicle Search Leads to Small Amount of Weed, Couple of Oxycodone Pills and 299K in Cash

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of NIXANDRA FRANCO-ESTRADA (DOB: 08/31/2000; single; hotel housekeeping) of Chester, PA and GILBERTO JIMENEZ-ESTRADA (DOB: 09/27/78; single; self-employed barber) of Camden, NJ on charges of Money Laundering and Possession Of A Controlled Dangerous Substance. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.

On July 20, 2020, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force conducted a motor vehicle stop in Fort Lee, NJ. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of suspected marijuana inside the passenger seatback pouch, four Oxycodone pills in the passenger’s satchel, and $299,680 inside a suitcase in the passenger compartment.

The driver of the vehicle, NIXANDRA FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ, was arrested and charged with one count of Money Laundering, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25(a), a 2nd degree crime; and one count of Possession Of A Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely Marijuana, in violation N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(4), a disorderly persons offense. The passenger, GILBERTO JIMENEZ-ESTRADA, was arrested and charged with one count of Money Laundering, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25(a), a 2nd degree crime; one count of Possession Of A Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely Oxycodone, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Possession Of A Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely Marijuana, in violation N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(4), a disorderly persons offense. They were both released on their own recognizance pending an appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.