Prosecutor: Arrests stem flow of drugs into Bayshore

Fourteen people have been arrested as a result of an eight-month investigation by multiple county and local law enforcement agencies dubbed “Operation Family Tides,” which focused on addressing the flow of heroin into the Bayshore region.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said the arrests involved members of a family-centered heroin distribution ring,

“Heroin addiction and fatal overdoses have become a statewide epidemic and, as a result, it has become a primary focus of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit and the Bayshore Task Force,” Gramiccioni said in a May 22 press release.

Calling the arrests “a significant disruption of a heroin trafficking ring that targeted the Bayshore region,” Gramiccioni said the investigation thwarted the flow of the deadly drugs into local communities.

“Operation Family Tides” resulted in the arrests of 14 of the 18 defendants charged in connection with the investigation. The suspects were remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), Freehold Township, in lieu of bail.

Four suspects remained at-large and are considered fugitives.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the investigation began last fall in conjunction with other efforts focused on combating the flow of heroin in the Bayshore region. Investigators learned that alleged members of the heroin ring sold substantial quantities of heroin operating out of houses and apartments in both Monmouth and Middlesex counties.

Investigators discovered that many members of the operation were related and regularly conspired to obtain various amounts of “raw,” or unpackaged, undiluted heroin. They allegedly recruited people to package the heroin and sold the heroin at several locations, primarily in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen.

Members of the distribution operation also sold both powder and crack cocaine, authorities said.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Gregory “IA” Moore, 33; Terrence “T9” Brown, 37; Edward “Head” Gutridge II, 29, all of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen; and Halee Wing, 36, of East Orange, acted as leaders of the heroin ring and were each charged with the first-degree crime of leader of a narcotics trafficking network and several other offenses related to controlled dangerous substances (CDS).

Brown, Gutridge and Wing are each being held at MCCI on $1 million bail with no 10 percent option. Moore remained at large last week.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Moore, Brown, Gutridge and Wing acted as leaders of the heroin trafficking ring, and five others — Isaiah “Zeke” Edwards, 25, of Old Bridge; Raymond “Hood” Jackson, 30, of Keyport; Bianca Edwards, 22, of Old Bridge; Joseph “Rule” Jackson Jr., 43, of Matawan; and Krystal Mell, 26, of Keansburg — “conspired with them and acted as accomplices in their efforts to distribute heroin and other drugs throughout the Bayshore.”

The five individuals are each charged with second-degree conspiracy to possess CDS with intent to distribute, and distribution of a CDS; first-degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; and other charges related to narcotics distribution offenses.

Isaiah Edwards, Raymond Jackson, Bianca Edwards, Joseph Jackson and Mell are each being held at MCCI on $750,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officials seized a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, approximately 8,100 bags of heroin packaged for sale, four ounces of raw heroin, five ounces of cocaine and three vehicles, according to the prosecutor’s office.

As a result of the seizure of a handgun and cocaine, Gutridge and Jessica German, 21, of New York City were each charged with third-degree possession of a CDS; third-degree possession with intent to distribute a CDS; and second-degree possession of a firearm in the course of committing a drug offense.

German’s bail was set at $75,000 with no 10 percent option.

The investigation also uncovered an apartment within a building on Harned Street in Perth Amboy, where heroin was allegedly being processed from raw form and packaged for sale, according to the prosecutor’s office. As a result, charges of firstdegree maintaining or operating a CDS production facility; second-degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; and third-degree possession of a CDS were filed against Gutridge, Wing, Timothy Davidson, 38, of Old Bridge, and Alina Alma, 24, of New York City. Davidson and Alma are being held at MCCI on $500,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

Suspects who allegedly sought to purchase narcotics from one or more of the distributors of the alleged heroin ring were also arrested as a result of the investigation. These included Ryan Murphy, 26, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen; Jason Remp, 21, of Hazlet; and James Mitchell, 57, of Keansburg, who were each charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess a CDS and third-degree possession of a CDS, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The following individuals remained atlarge last week: Christine Owens, 44, of the West Keansburg section of Hazlet; Shannon Lecomte, 21, of Keansburg, and Taheem Brown, 22, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, each of whom have been charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess a CDS and third-degree possession of a CDS by the prosecutor’s office.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Members of the public with information concerning the charged individuals or the whereabouts of the defendants still at large are asked to contact Detective James Powers of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443. Anyone who has information about a crime but wishes to remain anonymous can contact the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential tip-line by calling 800-671-4400; texting “MONMOUTH” plus the tip to 274637; or emailing a tip via www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

Gramiccioni credited numerous law enforcement agencies for their work on the investigation, including police departments in Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Manalapan, Matawan, Middletown, Spring Lake and Union Beach, as well as the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.

Gramiccioni also cited assistance from the Old Bridge, Newark, Perth Amboy and Woodbridge police departments, and the Essex and Middlesex County prosecutor’s offices.