196 Heroin Bags Seized in Sparta Bust

A total of 196 bags of heroin were seized by Sparta police Sunday morning from a duo stopped driving on Route 15 South.

The bags were stamped with names such as "Sky High," "Dirty Money," "American Express," "Hurricane Sandy," and with a thumbs up symbol and were found in bricks, bundles and deks, according to police. 

Twenty-one-year-old Jeremy Kondak, of Port Jervis, NY, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of a syringe and issued a summons for speeding. His car was impounded and he was sent to the Sussex County jail in lieu of $15,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

The passenger of his car, 22-year-old Karlene McHugh of Montague, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a syringe. Her bail was also set at $15,000 with no 10 percent option.

According to Sgt. John-Paul Beebe of the Sparta Township Police Deartment, Kondak's 2007 Honda Civic was stopped just after 11 a.m. by Sgt. John Lamon for speeding. Kondak was allegedly driving 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. Beebe said Kondak seemed "extremely nervous" when he spoke to Lamon and could not explain where he was going or coming from. Beebe said McHugh also told the officer conflicting information from what Kondak said.

Beebe said Kondak told Lamon that he and McHugh ingested several bags of heroin earlier in the day but that there was no drugs in the vehicle. Lamon received consent to search Kondak's vehicle and in it found small pieces of drug paraphernalia throughout the car, Beebe said, including syringe caps, empty glassine wrappers used to package heroin and small rubber bands.

In the trunk, the heroin bags were found, Beebe said. 

Kondak and McHugh were arrested and transported to the police station.

For questions on this report, email ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com