Former Rutgers student of Indian origin, six current students, arrested in drug sting operation

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A computer science graduate from New Brunswick Campus of New Jersey’s State University, Rutgers, was arrested last week during a drug sting operation, according to a n announcement made December 5, by Middlesex County, NJ, Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone’s office.

Anudeep Revuri, 23, of North Brunswick, was arrested by NJ Police Department after being charged with one count of first-degree Leader of a Drug Trafficking Network, two counts of second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Drug Distribution, and one count of third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Drug Distribution, the County Prosecutor’s Dec. 5, press release said.

According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office, the months-long investigation revealed that Revuri created a private social media network where narcotics distributors could post menus for drugs and solicit buyers from within the Rutgers University community. Membership and access were open to Rutgers students who established their affiliation with the school. They could then browse menus posted by distributors and contact them in order to negotiate purchases.

At the time of the arrest, Police were able to seize a large amount of marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall, Xanax, a large amount of US currency, and a firearm, the Prosecutor said.

According to Revuri’s LinkedIn profile, he graduated from the university in 2022. Revuri also volunteered with Boy Scouts of America for six years between 2013 and 2019, becoming an Eagle Scout. His profile also states, Revuri was awarded the President Volunteer Service Award by Agraj Seva Kendra for 4 consecutive years from 2016 to 2019.

While Revuri is a former student of Rutgers, other six arrested with him were current students at Rutgers, and include Joshua Duffy, 20, of Somerset; Zachary Petersen, 22, of Red Bank; Catherine Tierney, 23, of Shrewsbury; David Nudelman, 20, of Jackson; Donovin Williams, 22, of Kingston, NY; and Noa Lisimachio, 21, of New York, NY, according to the news release.

The arrests were made after a months-long narcotics operation entitled Operation RU Pharm. Led by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the operation was carried out in conjunction with the Rutgers University Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

The operation uncovered a closed and private social media network utilized by Rutgers University students to sell and purchase narcotics, according to the County Prosecutor’s press release.

New York Post, which was able to reach Revuri’s attorney, Jason Seidman, reported him saying Revuri only created an online chat room the other students exploited in order to sell drugs. NYPost further reported the attorney saying he did not see any proof that his client coordinated or directed any sales, and that Revuri maintains his innocence and would prove it in court.

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Revuri, Duffy, Petersen, Tierney, Nudelman, Williams and Lisimachio are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the County Prosecutor noted.