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 officer 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 pickup truck, which was being operated by Hector Sostre, was the subject of a lawful motor vehicle stop. DeJesus was a passenger in the pickup truck at the time of the motor vehicle stop. A lawful search of the pickup 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, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. DeJesus is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $500,000 cash-only bail. A condition of DeJesus’ bail is a bail source hearing.
• Monica L. Greiner, 35, of Matawan, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances; third-degree possession of a CDS; third degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; and third-degree distribution of a CDS. Greiner is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $150,000 cashonly bail. A condition of Greiner’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• John Simek, 63, of Tinton Falls, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances; five counts of third-degree possession of a CDS; five counts of second-degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; five counts of second-degree distribution of a CDS; first-degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; and first-degree distribution of a CDS. Simek is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $500,000 cash only bail. A condition of Simek’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Hector L. Sostre, 48, of Freehold, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Sostre is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $150,000 cash-only bail in addition to the previously set $50,000 bail. A condition of Sostre’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Justin M. Calderone, 28, of Howell, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Calderone is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Calderone’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Irma Pagan, 44, of Freehold, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Pagan is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Pagan’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Erica Pagan, 23, of Freehold, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Pagan is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Pagan’s bail is a bail source hearing. Erica Pagan is the daughter of Irma Pagan.
• Steven C. Cordova, 29, of Freehold, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Cordova is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $150,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Cordova’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Gerald W. Pellegrini, 41, of Freehold, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Pellegrini is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $150,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Pellegrini’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Thomas Durante Sr., 53, of Roselle, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Durante remains in the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $150,000 cash-only bail.
A condition of Durante’s bail is a bail source hearing. Thomas Durante Sr., is the father of Andrew Durante.
• Andrew J. Durante, 21, of Toms River, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Durante is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Durante’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Antonio E. Santos, 38, of New York City, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Santos’ bail has been set at $500,000 cash only bail. A condition of Santos’ bail is a bail source hearing. Santos is being held in New York pending extradition hearings.
• Joshua G. Slanovits, 27, of Jackson, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Slanovits is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash only bail. A condition of Slanovits’ bail is a bail source hearing.
• Darrin Vasta, 43, of Jackson, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances. Vasta is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $150,000 cash only bail. A condition of Vasta’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Michael J. Palmieri III, of Manalapan, is charged with third-degree possession of a CDS; second-degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; third-degree possession of a CDS with intent to distribute; fourth degree possession of a CDS; seconddegree unlawful possession of a handgun; second-degree possession of a firearm while in the course of committing a CDS offense. Palmieri is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $200,000 bail set by Municipal Court Judge James Newman.
• Scott Getta, 29, of Jackson, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess controlled dangerous substances. Getta is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $50,000 cash-only bail. A condition of Getta’s bail is a bail source hearing.
• Anthony J. Malacow, 31, of Seaside Heights, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess controlled dangerous substances. Getta is being held at the Monmouth County jail in lieu of $50,000 cashonly bail. A condition of Malacow’s bail is a bail source hearing.
Bail for each of the individuals, except for Palmieri, who were arrested and charged as a result of this investigation was set by Monmouth County Assignment Judge Lawrence M. Lawson, sitting in Freehold
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.
If convicted, a third-degree crime carries with it a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to a five-year state prison term; a second-degree crime carries with it a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to a 10-year state prison term; and a first-degree crime carries with it a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to a 20-year state prison term.