A Monmouth County grand jury has returned a 100-count indictment charging a dozen people for their alleged roles in a Freehold area drug distribution ring involving heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription medications.
In addition, 33 people were charged with drug possession and conspiracy offenses, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on March 16.
A five-month undercover investigation by federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies was dubbed “Operation Justice Served” and culminated with the arrest of 42 people between September and November 2016. The indictment of those individuals followed four months later.
“We are faced with a drug problem of epidemic proportions and we must continue our coordinated assault on supply lines that feed off the problem like a cancer,” Gramiccioni said.
Most of the criminal activity was concentrated in Freehold Borough, with the investigation ultimately leading to the seizure of more than 2,700 bags of heroin, 300 grams of cocaine, 16 ounces of marijuana and dozens of prescription pills intended for distribution in and around Freehold, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The joint investigation revealed the trafficking network was moving about 2,500 bags of heroin and 200 grams of cocaine a week.
The investigation began in late spring 2016 by focusing on alleged drug sales by Kenneth Crooms, 45, of Freehold Borough, but quickly expanded to include 13 other individuals who were allegedly either aiding Crooms in his distribution of drugs or selling drugs, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The grand jury indicted Kenneth Crooms and his co-defendants with first degree charges of distribution of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second degree charges of distribution of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute, two counts each of third degree distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances (marijuana and pain medications) and one count of second degree conspiracy to distribute these drugs, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Kenneth Crooms’ co-defendants are Welman Crooms, 39, of Freehold Township; Newman Davis, 40, of Freehold Township; Angel J. Fuentes, 25, of Somerset Township; Michael W. Garrett, 51, of Freehold Borough (Garrett was also charged with second degree possession of a firearm during a CDS offense); Carson Givens, 37, of Manalapan; Juan Heredia, 32, of Freehold Borough; Amanda N. Rivera, 36, of Long Branch; Husmir Salihagic, 32, of Freehold Borough; William Torres, 54, of Freehold Borough; Kayla Vold, 22, of Freehold Township; and Andre L. Williams, 40, of Bayonne.
Kelly Andriessen, of Freehold Township, and Erikan Hassan, of Manalapan, were charged with similar offenses, not including the first degree charges, in November 2016. Their cases were resolved prior to the return of the indictment on March 16, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The indictment also charged 33 individuals with third degree offenses of possession of controlled dangerous substances. The investigation revealed that those individuals allegedly regularly met Kenneth Crooms or Newman Davis to buy drugs.
Gramiccioni credited numerous law enforcement agencies for their hard work and dedication to the investigation, including the Freehold Borough Police Department, Freehold Township Police Department, Marlboro Police Department, Manalapan Police Department, Howell Police Department, Brielle Police Department, Asbury Park Police Department, Eatontown Police Department, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Marshals Service.
If convicted of any of the first degree charges, defendants face a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison. If convicted of second degree offenses, defendants face an exposure of five to 10 years in state prison, and third degree charges come with a potential custodial sentence of three to five years in state prison, according to the prosecutor’s office.