25,000 Heroin Doses Funneled By Network To Ocean County Per Week: Prosecutor

Twenty-six people have been arrested, and a drug distribution network that was pouring 25,000 doses of heroin into Ocean County each week was broken up as law enforcement conducted three major raids in the last two weeks, according to the Ocean County prosecutor's office.

The largest raid, conducted June 2, resulted in the arrests of 18 people, including the man who managed and directed the network, dubbed Operation MVP: Melvin Vankpana, 23, aka "Money," of Lakewood and Neptune, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said Tuesday. More than $40,000, guns and 8,000 doses of heroin were seized during these raids, he said.

The initial raids, conducted May 25 in South Toms River and Berkeley Township, resulted in six arrests and the seizure of an additional 1,000 heroin doses and $6,000 in cash, Coronato said.

A third operation, conducted May 26, resulted in the arrest of two Seaside Heights residents and the seizure of oxycodone pills and marijuana wax "dabs" and more than $2,300 in cash, Coronato's office said.

Authorities say Vankpana managed and directed the heroin distribution network in Ocean County. The investigation into the operations began in late 2015, and through it authorities identified locations in Toms River, Lakewood, Brick Township, Jackson Township and Neptune Township where Vankpana and network members would run drug distribution activities and store quantities of heroin for distribution, Coronato said.

Detectives from the Special Operations Group Unit, along with members of the Lakewood Township Police ESU, the Brick Township S.E.R.T Team, the Toms River Police E.S.U., the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and members of the New Jersey State Police T.E.A.M.S. Unit executed nine no-knock search warrants in Lakewood, Brick, Jackson and Neptune Township during the early morning hours of June 2, Coronato said.

Members of the U.S. Marshal's Service, along with members of the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, the Toms River Police Department and the Lakewood Township Police department went to homes in Toms River and Lakewood to execute arrest warrants associated with the operation, he said.

Operation MVP resulted in the seizure of approximately 8,000 individual dosage units of heroin, quantities of prescription pills, cocaine and marijuana, an AR-15 assault rifle, a Ruger semi-automatic pistol and approximately $40,000 in cash, Coronato said.

The following 18 individuals were arrested as a result of operation “MVP”

Melvin Vankpana, 23, 300 Waverly Ave., Apartment 929, Neptune. His bail was set at $300,000 cash. He was charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network, possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one half ounce of heroin.

Luis Rodriguez, 26, 214 Cedar Bridge Avenue, Apt. A, Lakewood. His bail was set at $150,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin and cocaine, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one half ounce of heroin and cocaine.

Quaoirah Vaughn-Rodriguez, 23, 214 Cedar Bridge Ave., Apt. A, Lakewood. Charged with possession of heroin, cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on a summons.

Nyshawne Sutton, 35, 208 Cedar Bridge Ave., Apt. A, Lakewood. His bail was set at $150,000 cash only. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Marcus Jones, 40, 131 East Seventh St., Lakewood. His bail was set at $150,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin more than one-half-ounce with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin more than one-half-ounce.

Tarell Jones, 26, 195 Alder St., Lakewood. His bail was set at $150,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Mathew Green, 27, 11 Albany Ave., Jackson. His bail was set at $200,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Timothy Moore, 20, 11 Albany Avenue, Jackson. He was released on a summons. He was charged with possession of heroin and marijuana.

Kashawn Cotte, 24, 452 Lonna Court, Brick. His bail was set at $100,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Jerron Evans, 33, 1005 Arlington Dr., Toms River. His bail was set at $200,000 cash only. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin, possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense and certain persons not to possess a firearm.

William Davis, 20, 1005 Arlington Dr., Toms River. His bail was set at $100,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin and possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense.

Samora Burgess, 28, 1005 Arlington Drive, Toms River. Her bail was set at $750,000 cash. She was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one half ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of more than one half ounce of heroin and possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense.

Candido Jackson, 28, 504 Massachusetts Ave., Lakewood. His bail was set at $150,000 cash. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Yahnie Patterson, 28, is currently lodged in the Monmouth County Jail in lieu of $150,000 cash bail. He is charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Nakayla Adams, 25, 31 Wicker Place, Morganville. Bail was set at $75,000 cash. She was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of one-half-ounce of heroin.

Aniya Lynn, 25, 2250 West County Line Road, Apt. B14, Jackson. Her bail was set at $100,000 cash. She was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Erika Ortiz, 24, 32 Merlin Avenue, Lakewood. Her bail was set at $100,000 cash. She was charged with possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half ounce of heroin.

Altariq Montgomery, 22, 11 Albany Ave., Jackson. He was released on a summons. He was charged with possession of Percocet.

STILL AT LARGE:

Jameer Jones, 22, 1321 Stark St., Lakewood. His bail is set at $150,000 cash. He is wanted for possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Dasean Donaldson, 20, 15 Sylvan Court, Lakewood. His bail is set at $100,000 cash. He is wanted for possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Dajun Morris, 23, 1313 Marshall St., Lakewood. His bail was set at $100,000 cash. He is wanted for possession of heroin, possession of more than one-half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of more than one-half-ounce of heroin.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these individuals is asked to contact the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Operations Group at 732-341-6150 or 732-929-2027.

This investigation is continuing and additional arrests are forthcoming, Coronato said.

The following vehicles were seized as a result of operation ‘MVP”:

Black 2012 BMW X6 - used by Melvin Vankpana

Black 2013 Hyundai Elantra - used by Kashawn Cotte

The following agencies also participated in the operation:

• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group
• Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit
• Brick Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit
• Toms River Police Emergency Services Unit
• Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit
• Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team
• Lakewood Township Police Department SWAT Team
• Lakewood Township Police Street Crimes Unit
• Manchester Police Department
• Manchester Township Police Special Enforcement Team
• Berkeley Township Police Department
• South Toms River Police Department
• Lacey Township Police Department
• Ocean Township Police Department
• Jackson Township Police Department
• Barnegat Township Police Department Narcotics Unit
• Little Egg Harbor Police Department
• Stafford Township Police Department
• New Jersey State Police TEAMS Unit
• New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit
• Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit
• Ocean County Sheriff’s Department C.S.I.
• Ocean County Regional SWAT Team
• Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force
• Neptune Township Police Department
• United States Marshals Service