The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration – New Jersey Division, U.S. Marshal Service, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Matawan, Ocean Township and Toms River police departments, joined forces and investigated a narcotics operation based in Freehold Borough which was allegedly responsible for the distribution of various illegal drugs throughout Monmouth County.
The drugs that were being distributed included cocaine, heroin, ketamine (commonly referred to as “Special K”), marijuana, oxycontin and suboxone. The investigation culminated on April 30 with the arrest of 17 individuals, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation commenced in the fall of 2009 when an undercover officer purchased cocaine from an individual who was a member of the network. Additional investigative tools were then used to identify other members of the narcotics distribution network as well as their methods of operation, according to the press release.
The investigation initially focused upon the heroin distribution activities of Pedro DeJesus, also known as Peto, 36, of Freehold Borough. The investigation revealed that DeJesus supplied various illicit drugs to others, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The investigation also revealed that one of DeJesus’ co-conspirators was John Simek, 63, of Tinton Falls. Between Jan. 20 and March 25, Simek sold quantities of cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on five separate occasions, according to the press release. The aggregate amount of the cocaine which Simek sold to the undercover office was in excess of 5 ounces.
The investigation further revealed that another of DeJesus’ co-conspirators was Monica Greiner, 35, of Matawan. On one occasion during the investigation, Greiner sold 16 oxycodone pills to an undercover detective, according to the prosecutor’s office.
On April 16 a black Ford F-150 pick-up truck which was being operated by Hector Sostre was the subject of a lawful motor vehicle stop. DeJesus was a passenger in the pick-up truck at the time of the motor vehicle stop. A lawful search of the pick-up truck resulted in the seizure of the following items: a large plastic bag secreted in the dashboard behind the radio system which contained a quantity of suspected cocaine; a red digital scale; several empty small glassine bags, some of which contained suspected cocaine residue; Suboxone and some loose green vegetation believed to be marijuana, according to the press release.
DeJesus and Sostre were arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) and two counts of conspiracy to possess a CDS with intent to distribute. Bail for both men was set at $50,000 by Howell Municipal Court Judge Allan Kaplan. DeJesus was released on April 17 after he posted bail.
In addition to the above, the investigation resulted in the following individuals being charged on April 30:
• Pedro DeJesus, 36, of Freehold.
• Monica L. Greiner, 35, of Matawan.
• John Simek, 63, of Tinton Falls.
• Hector L. Sostre, 48, of Freehold.
• Justin M. Calderone, 28, of Howell.
• Irma Pagan, 44, of Freehold.
• Erica Pagan, 23, of Freehold. Erica Pagan is the daughter of Irma Pagan.
• Steven C. Cordova, 29, of Freehold.
• Gerald W. Pellegrini, 41, of Freehold.
• Thomas Durante Sr., 53, of Roselle.
• Andrew J. Durante, 21, of Toms River. Andrew J. Durante is the son of Thomas Durante Sr.
• Antonio E. Santos, 38, of New York City.
• Joshua G. Slanovits, 27, of Jackson.
• Darrin Vasta, 43, of Jackson.
• Michael J. Palmieri III, of Manalapan.
• Scott Getta, 29, of Jackson.
• Anthony J. Malacow, 31, of Seaside Heights.
As a result of lawful searches conducted in furtherance of the investigation on April 30, officers seized approximately $28,000 cash believed to be illicit drug proceeds, according to the press release.