Three government employees in West New York, two from Town Hall and one from the parking authority, as part of the ongoing narcotics sting by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The HCPO Narcotics Task Force and Internal Affairs Unit have arrested an additional six individuals following a six-month long narcotics investigation.
The investigation led to the seizure of over four kilograms of suspected cocaine, two handguns, seven vehicles, and more than $70,000 in cash.
The following individuals were arrested between July 28, 2025 and July 29, 2025:
• Jorge Delgado, 44, a security guard with the Town of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine).
• Johann Messina, 57, a laborer with the Town of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
• Carlos Begueria, 49, an employee with the West New York Parking Authority, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
• Dean Mannion, 61, of North Bergen, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
• Steven Betancourt, 43, of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
• Priscilla Acevedo, 44, of North Bergen, is charged with conspiracy to possess (cocaine), a crime of the third degree.
During the early morning hours of Thursday, July 17th, law enforcement officers from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office executed search warrants at multiple locations in North Bergen, West New York, and Union City.
As part of the operation, officers arrested seven individuals, including West New York Police Department Dispatcher Ileana Hernandez, retired West New York Police Det. Tommy Mannion, Dean Mannion’s brother, and a Hudson County Corrections Officer Marquis Santiago, as HCV first reported.
A narcotics production facility was uncovered and the street value of the recovered narcotics is over $150,000. The investigation is still ongoing.