Three Paterson residents were charged with multiple offenses in connection to an organized theft scheme, authorities said. The arrests followed an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and several local police departments.

Yasen R. Delgado, 26, Ahjainay N. Gawthney, 27, and Delareese Delgado, 31, were taken into custody Thursday as part of the probe into a telephone scam that targeted victims with fraudulent claims of outstanding arrest warrants, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The investigation, which began in January, focused on reports of scam calls in which an unknown caller posed as a Bergen County law enforcement officer or bail bondsman. Victims were falsely told they faced arrest for missing a court proceeding or ignoring jury duty, then directed to hand over large sums of money to avoid incarceration, officials said. Law enforcement does not demand payment over the phone or threaten arrest in this manner, prosecutors noted.

Investigators determined that at least nine victims had been defrauded of a combined total of about $190,000. Authorities traced the calls and identified a suspect vehicle used to meet with victims and collect payments, leading to the arrests of Yasen Delgado and Gawthney as alleged participants in the scam.

On Thursday, search warrants were executed at two Paterson residences connected to the suspects. Investigators said they recovered suspected fentanyl, prescription drugs, drug packaging materials, glassine bags, electronic scales, cash proceeds, and firearms. A loaded, unregistered handgun with illegal hollow-point ammunition was found in Yasen Delgado’s possession, while an illegal assault rifle was linked to Delareese Delgado, authorities said.

Yasen Delgado was charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree maintaining a premises for drug manufacturing, theft by deception, theft by extortion, drug distribution, unlawful possession of a weapon, and impersonating a law enforcement officer. Gawthney was charged with theft by extortion, theft by deception, conspiracy, and money laundering. Delareese Delgado was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of prohibited devices.

All three suspects were taken to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearances in Bergen County Superior Court.