Duo Sentenced To Prison In 2014 Heroin, Cocaine Bust

FREEHOLD, NJ – Two Monmouth County men have been sentenced to prison in connection with a 2014 heroin distribution case that resulted in the seizure of 367 packets of heroin and 16 bags of cocaine, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Timothy Bethea, 41, of Tinton Falls, and Aldaberto Vega, 35, of Eatontown, were convicted on May 9, 2017 by a jury on charges of third-degree possession of CDS, third-degree possession with intent to distribute and third-degree possession with intent to distribute in a school zone, said Charles Webster, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

The charges stemmed from a June 13, 2014 incident, when the Neptune Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit arrived at the Days Inn on Route 33 to investigate drug activity and discovered Bethea and Vega inside a vehicle parked outside the motel, authorities said. An investigation found 360 bags of heroin inside the vehicle, Webster said, and a further search of the vehicle and Bethea uncovered additional heroin, 16 bags of crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and other items.

Bethea was sentenced by Judge Richard M. English to 8 years in prison with a four-year period of parole ineligibility, and Vega was sentenced to 5 years with a three-year period of parole ineligibility, Webster said.

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