2 Barnegat Men Charged In Lacey Heroin Bust: Prosecutor

LACEY, NJ — Three people, including two Barnegat men, were charged Monday after a two-month investigation into heroin distribution in Lacey, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced. Joshua Casper was accused of storing and distributing heroin out of his Lacey home.

The Barnegat residents — Kevin Smith and Kyle Frate — received heroin from Casper's home, the OCPO said. Authorities pulled them over and found they had 10 wax folds of heroin and fentanyl, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Detectives then raided Casper's home and found 280 wax folds of heroin, as well as other drug paraphernalia, the OCPO said.

Casper, 36, of Forked River was charged with heroin distribution, heroin possession, possessing heroin with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, the OCPO said.

Frate, 34, and Smith, 29, were charged with heroin possession and possessing a hypodermic syringe, the OCPO said. Both were put in Ocean County Jail.

Casper was released as per New Jersey bail reform. Authorities kept Frate and Smith in jail because Frate drove with a revoked license and Smith was on probation, OCPO Press Officer Bryan Huntenburg told Patch.

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