Police in Jersey City, NJ raided the offices of Block Royal Entertainment, a Hip-Hop studio/record label founded by Akon’s slain road manager, claiming the business was a front for a wholesale distribution ring that sold uncut heroin and cocaine.
Robert “Screw” Montanez founded Block Royal and helped promote the early career of chart topping R&B singer Akon, who was with Montanez when he was shot and killed outside of the Ringside Bar in Dec. 2004.
Montanez was killed when he became involved in an argument with a man who attempted rob a necklace from Capone of Capone-N-Noreaga.
Over 24 people associated with Block Royal Entertainment have been arrested by police, who have been conducting various forms of surveillance of the organization over the past three months.
The six month investigation, dubbed “Royal Flush,” netted over 700 grams of powered and crack cocaine, worth an estimated $70,000.
Police also recovered $30,000 in cash, four handguns, a bulletproof vest, hollow-point bullets and four vehicles.
“Law enforcement wanted to see how extensive this network was,†Hudson County Prosecutor Edward J. De Fazio told The Record. “As you can see, it was quite extensive. Based on the amount we confiscated, it is clear this was a large-scale wholesale distribution network. These were fellows dealing in large amounts of drugs, and they were dealing to top distributors.â€
Those arrested face various state and federal weapons and drug distribution charges.
By Nolan Strong