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News
Release Northern New Jersey HIDTA Task Force and DEA Seize Little Ferry Car Dealership and Arrest Three
Also arrested was Civan’s son, Raffi Civan, a/k/a “Ralph Civan”, a resident of Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and Eudelys Manzueta, a/k/a Nina Debord”, a resident of Moonachie, NJ, an office assistant for Zakar Motors. The criminal complaint charges both of these defendants with one count of money laundering and one count of evading reporting requirements. The criminal complaints allege that certain property of Zakar Motors
and Civan should be forfeited to the United States. That property includes
all monies, funds, and vehicles owned by Zakar Motors and Civan. The investigation is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey headed by U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie. Chris Gramiccioni is the Assistant United States Attorney who will represent the Government. Mr. Gramiccioni indicated that the purpose of the seizures was to preserve the availability of this property for forfeiture in the event that the Government obtains a judgment of forfeiture. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA) was authorized by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. HIDTA’s mission is to reduce drug trafficking and investigate money laundering organizations within designated areas. The Northern New Jersey HIDTA Task Force is comprised of the following agencies: DEA, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Belleville Police Department, Elizabeth Police Department, Union City Police Department, Rutgers Police Department, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Bayonne Police Department, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark Police Department, District Attorney of New York City, New Jersey National Guard, Fort Lee Police Department, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and New Jersey State Police. These agencies are responsible for the following New Jersey counties Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union. Notwithstanding the criminal complaint, every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The federal complaint charges the defendants with money laundering and
evading the reporting requirements. If convicted of the above charges,
each defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal
prison and a $500 thousand dollar or twice the gross profit fine. |
Special Agent in Charge Michael
Pasterchick, Jr., of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and New
Jersey HIDTA Commander Brian Collier announced
today that the Northern New Jersey HIDTA Task Force had arrested Zakar
Civan, owner and president of Zakar Motors, a luxury and exotic Car
Dealership located at 202-210 Route 46 West, Little Ferry, New Jersey.
Mr. Civan, a resident of Ft. Lee, NJ was charged with one count of
money laundering and one count of evading reporting requirements. SAC
Pasterchick stated that the investigation was a result of an undercover
investigation by HIDTA, DEA, and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s
Office. Undercover agents developed the case to prove that Civan concealed
drug proceeds and evaded reporting requirements bound by law. Additionally,
two federal search warrants were executed at Zakar Motors, both for
offices controlled by Civan and his staff. Further, a seizure warrant
was executed on a bank account held by Zakar Motors of Little Ferry,
Inc. and /or Zakar and Raffi Civan at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.