Seven people have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged Rutgers University social media drug ring, authorities announced this week.
Middlesex County Attorney Yolanda Ciccone said in a statement Thursday that a large-scale drug investigation known as Operation RU Pharmaceuticals has uncovered “an undisclosed number of drug operations used by Rutgers University students to sell and purchase drugs. “Private social media networks” were exposed, he said.
According to a news release from Ciccone’s office, authorities seized large amounts of marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall, Xanax, “a large amount of U.S. currency,” and firearms.
The sting revealed that Rutgers University alumni had set up a private social media network that “allowed drug distributors to post drug menus and recruit purchasers from within the Rutgers community.”
Rutgers students who established a relationship with the school were allowed to join the network, browse the “menu,” and contact distributors to negotiate drug purchases.
Authorities have charged Anudeep Rebri, a 23-year-old from North Brunswick, with one count of being a first-degree leader of a drug trafficking network. Two counts of second-degree conspiracy to distribute narcotics. One count of third-degree conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Lebri’s profile on LinkedIn indicates that he graduated from the university in 2022.
Six others — Joshua Duffy, 20; Zachary Petersen, 22 years old. Catherine Tierney, 23 years old. David Neudelman, 20 years old. Donovin Williams, 20 years old. and Noah Lisimachio, 21, were charged with varying degrees of possession and distribution of a controlled substance.
A Rutgers spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Ciccone said the investigation is “active and ongoing.” She encouraged anyone with information about this case to contact her office’s drug task force. It added that the charges against all seven “are mere accusations and are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
