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NJ Man Faces Numerous Charges In Fatal Overdose

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. (AP) — Prosecutors say a northern New Jersey man caused a 19-year-old man's fatal overdose.

Bergen County prosecutors say Darius Ghahary of Upper Saddle River is charged with strict liability for a drug-induced death; manslaughter; maintaining a drug manufacturing facility and heroin distribution. He's also charged with hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence for allegedly telling his 19-year-old daughter to destroy evidence.

The 44-year-old Ghahary remains jailed on $750,000 cash bail, and it wasn't known Saturday if he's retained an attorney. His daughter Alynn Ghahary of Ramsey, was charged with hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence.

Darius Ghahary is charged in the Feb. 22 death of 19-year-old Daniel Lajterman, who was found dead at his family's Ramsey home from an apparent heroin overdose. Prosecutors say Lajterman bought various drugs from Darius Ghahary, including a substance he thought was heroin but was instead a "poly-drug substance" Darius Ghahary had mixed himself.

County Prosecutor John Molinelli said it's believed that Darius Ghahary has been "peddling his illicit drugs to numerous young adults" in the region. Molinelli warned that anyone who may have gotten drugs from Darius Ghahary should not to use them.

When search warrants were executed Monday and Tuesday at Darius Ghahary's home and several storage facilities that he and others used, Molinelli said investigators found large amounts of several drugs, including fentanyl, oxycodone, steroids and marijuana.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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