News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2003

New Jersey Native Appointed to Serve as the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Newark Division

SEPT 11 - Karen P. Tandy, Administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has appointed Michael Pasterchick, Jr. to the position of Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Division. The DEA Newark Division encompasses the entire state of New Jersey. Mr. Pasterchick will oversee the investigative efforts of Special Agents, Diversion Investigators, Intelligence Research Specialists and Support Personnel for DEA in the State of New Jersey. The DEA Newark Division includes the Division office in Newark, Resident Offices in Camden, Atlantic City and a Post of Duty in Paterson.

In 1978, Mr. Pasterchick began his career as a Special Agent with the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in New York. During his tenure with the IRS, Mr. Pasterchick was assigned to a joint DEA/IRS Task Force in 1980 and in 1983, Mr. Pasterchick transferred permanently to the DEA. From 1983 through 1990, he served as a Special Agent in the New York and Newark Divisions. In 1991, Mr. Pasterchick was promoted to the position of Group Supervisor in Newark.

In 1996, Mr. Pasterchick was transferred to a staff position in DEA's Special Operations Division in Newington, Virginia. There, Mr. Pasterchick coordinated high level cocaine and heroin investigations involving Latin America.

In February 1997, Mr. Pasterchick was promoted to the Chief of State and Local Programs in DEA Headquarters. His duties included the overall supervision of the personnel assigned to the State and Local Programs Section and to provide leadership and guidance to the domestic field offices. Additionally, Mr. Pasterchick supervised and directed the following programs: State & Local Task Forces, Mobil Enforcement Teams, Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Programs, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Operations Pipeline and Jetway, Weed and Seed, and affairs involving the Marianas Islands. Mr. Pasterchick was transferred in April 1998 to the Philadelphia Division where he became the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the State and Local Task Force.

In June 2000, he assumed the position of Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Newark. In Newark, Mr. Pasterchick was the Commander of the Northern New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. In this capacity, he supervised high level heroin and money laundering investigations in the five county HIDTA area and had oversight for the HIDTA Intelligence Unit.

Mr. Pasterchick is a New Jersey native. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Monmouth University and has completed some graduate work. Mr. Pasterchick looks forward to the challenge of his new assignment. "I started in Newark as a street agent over 20 years ago and it is truly an honor to be chosen by Administrator Tandy to lead his office as the Special Agent in Charge. I look forward to this assignment with excitement and enthusiasm and to working with all members of the New Jersey law enforcement community."