Elijah Lee, Manufacturing Illegal Pills, New Jersey 2020

NEWARK, N.J. - In a shocking turn of events, a trainee at the Irvington Fire Academy has been arrested and charged with operating a 'mill' for the manufacture of illegal narcotic pills in an Irvington residence. Elijah Lee, 27, who was in training to become a firefighter with the Irvington Fire Department, has been charged with conspiring to distribute methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly referred to as 'ecstasy,' or 'MDMA.'

Lee and Immanuel Majerska, 37, were arrested on January 30, 2020 and charged with the crime. Lee was released on bail, while Majerska was detained. The two defendants made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the defendants allegedly manufactured MDMA pills in the basement of Lee's residence. Law enforcement officers recovered two 'presses' capable of producing pills from raw ingredients, multiple kilograms of bulk suspected MDMA powder, and numerous pills of suspected MDMA. Additionally, a loaded firearm was recovered at Lee's residence in a dresser in Majerska's room. Majerska was in possession of approximately 1,000 suspected MDMA pills.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which aims to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation's illegal drug supply.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn; special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, under the direction of Peter C. Fitzhugh, with the investigation leading to today's charges. He also thanked the Essex County Sheriff's Department, the Irvington and Union police departments for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Travers of the U.S. Attorney's Office ODETF Unit in Newark.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/irvington-fire-academy-trainee-arrested-manufacturing-illegal-pills