Massive Drug Ring Taken Down: Guns, Bullets, $183K In Cash Seized In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A massive drug ring was taken down by Somerset County authorities yielding $167,000 worth of drugs, 8 guns, over 1,000 bullets, and 22 people arrested, Somerset County Acting Prosecutor Thomas J. Chirichella Jr. announced Monday.

Over the past seven months, Operation "Fire and Ice" investigated the distribution of cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and firearms in Somerset County.

Twenty Superior Court search warrants were conducted at the home of Jeffrey Cope, 58, Somerset; Shayne Murdock, 43, Raritan; Jermaine Lloyd, 41, South Bound Brook; Jason Fort, 31, Bound Brook; David Ninson,33, Somerset; George Hanriot, 45, Somerset; John Hanriot, 42, Somerville; and Gabriel Rodriguez, 41, Branchburg where authorities found and seized:

• 700 grams of cocaine (street value $42,000)
• About 1,257 grams of methamphetamine (street value $105,560)
• About 36 pounds of marijuana (street value $90,000)
• About 950 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) / hashish (street value $19,000)
• About 32 grams of psilocybinmushrooms (street value $800)
• About 9 grams of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (street value $540)
• 4 folds of heroin (street value $20)
• 7 handguns
• 1 shotgun
• 8 high capacity magazines
• 1,200 rounds of full metal jacket ammunition
• 130 rounds of hollow-point ammunition
• $183,036 cash believed to be from drug sale proceed, according to police.

Following the search warrants the following people were arrested and charged:

• Jeffrey Cope, 58, Somerset, – first-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute (4 counts); second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute (3 counts); second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm (3 counts); second-degree possession of a firearm without a permit (2 counts); third-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute (2 counts); third-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; third-degree possession of a shotgun without permit to carry; fourth-degree illegal sale of a firearm (handgun) (2 counts); fourth-degree illegal sale of a shotgun; fourth-degree conspiracy to sell a shotgun; and fourth-degree sale of firearms without proper license (2 counts).
• Thomas O’Brien, 58, Somerset – First-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (methamphetamine); and second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (cocaine).
• Shayne Murdock, 43, Raritan Borough – First-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (methamphetamine); and second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (cocaine).
• Jermaine Lloyd, 41, South Bound Brook – First-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (methamphetamine); second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (cocaine); and fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm.
• Jason Fort, 31, Bound Brook – Second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS (cocaine); second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS (methamphetamine), and fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm.
• David Ninson, 33, Somerset – First-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (methamphetamine); and second-degree promoting the sale of CDS (cocaine).
• Shakaun Toney, 34, Somerset – First-degree possession of CDS (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute.
• George Hanriot, 45, Somerset – First-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; first-degree possession of CDS (marijuana) with the intent to distribute, first-degree, possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute, second-degree, promoting or facilitating the sale of CDS, second-degree, and possessing a firearm in the course of committing a CDS offense, second-degree (3 counts).
• John Hanriot, 42, Somerville – Second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree possession of CDS (marijuana) with the intent to distribute; second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS (cocaine); and second-degree possession of a firearm in the course of committing a CDS offense (2 counts).
• Gabriel Rodriguez, 41, Branchburg – First-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute; second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine) with the intent to distribute (4 counts); and second-degree promoting or facilitating the sale of CDS.

The following people were arrested on March 2 for conspiracy and attempt to possess a controlled dangerous substance:

• Robert Carlson, age 53, Bridgewater
• Nicole Jackson, age 42, Bridgewater
• Doreen Johnson, age 59, South Bound Brook
• James Lopez, age 42, Hillsborough
• Jessie Lopez, age 40, Bound Brook
• James Matthews, age 48, Somerset
• Robert McCarter, age 61, Hillsborough
• Shawn Packard, age 49, Belvidere
• Michael Piomelli, age 56, Somerset
• James Simoncelli, age 58, South Bound Brook
• Elizabeth Wooden, age 54, Piscataway
• Paula Zapata, age 56, Somerset,

The following people were charged with conspiracy and attempt to possess a controlled dangerous substance but have not yet been arrested:

• Robert Dolan Sr., age 70, Bridgewater
• John Kevin Hale, age 49, South Bound Brook

The success of this operation would not have been possible without the active cooperation of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives John W. Fodor, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Michael Devlin, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Newark Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, Franklin Township Police Department Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather, Raritan Borough Police Department Chief of Police Ray Nolte, the New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police TEAMS, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Tactical Narcotics Team, Somerset County SWAT Team, Warren County Tactical Response Team, United States Postal Inspection Service Newark Division, Bound Brook Police Department, Bridgewater Police Department, Somerville Police Department, Branchburg Police Department, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, and the K-9 Units from the Somerset County Sherriff’s Office, Bound Brook Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department, Clinton Township Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Newark Field Division.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or the whereabouts of the two outstanding people are asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force at 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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