Heroin, Cocaine Seized, Brick Man Charged With Child Endangerment

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man is in custody on charges of drug distribution and endangering the welfare of children after a search turned up heroin, cocaine and suboxone in his home, the Ocean County prosecutor's office said Monday.

Joseph Cafasso, 49, of Brick, and Stacey Pio, 46, of Nutley, were arrested Sunday following an joint investigation into drug dealing in the area by the prosecutor's office, Brick Township police, Toms River police and the Ocean County sheriff's office, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.

The investigation led to a search warrant that was executed at Cafasso's home, where detectives seized about 3-1/2 bricks of heroin, suboxone, and cocaine. Additionally, Brick police pulled over Cafasso's car near his home and a search turned up about $1,200 in cash, Billhimer's office said. There were children living in the home as well, authorities said.

Pio, who was a passenger in Cafasso's car, allegedly was found to be in possession of about $940 in cash and a large quantity of morphine pills, the prosecutor's office said.

The two were taken to Toms River police headquarters, Billhimer said.

Cafasso was charged with distribution of heroin, two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of heroin, possession of suboxone with intent to distribute, possession of suboxone, possession of cocaine, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Pio was charged with possession with intent to distribute morphine, possession of morphine and possession of drug paraphernalia and released on a summons, Billhimer said.

"The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to working with all local police departments to investigate and prosecute individuals engaged in the illegal distribution of illegal, and in many cases deadly, narcotics throughout the county," Billhimer said in praising the collaborative effort.

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