Hazlet Man Admits Role In 'Major' Bayshore Heroin Ring

HAZLET, NJ — In Trenton federal court on Tuesday, a Hazlet man admitted his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed significant quantities of heroin and cocaine in the Bayshore area, said U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.

Tyler Scarangello, 34, of Hazlet, pleaded guilty before Judge Brian Martinotti to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

He pleaded guilty alongside Gregory Gillens, 47, of Hillside, who admitted to possessing or selling one kilogram or more of cocaine, as well as heroin.

Patch wrote about the "major" Bayshore heroin ring when it was first dismantled last year: In November 2018, Gillens, Scarangello, and 13 others were arrested. Federal prosecutors say that from May 2017 to November 2018, all 15 were part of a drug ring that operated in the Raritan Bayshore region of Middlesex County and northern Monmouth.

Matawan, Aberdeen, Keansburg, Hazlet and Holmdel police officers all helped work on the case. Police used wiretaps to intercept phone calls and text messages, and used confidential sources as well as made controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine.

The drug ring's main suppliers were from Pennsylvania and they sold the drugs to dealers in Cliffwood, Keansburg, Old Bridge, Belford and Union Beach, police say.

Much of the heroin was laced with fentanyl, the extremely lethal synthetic drug that can kill in even small doses.

Gillens and Scarangello are the sixth and seventh people to plead guilty. Other cases are still pending.

Police say that Gillens regularly supplied large quantities of heroin and cocaine for further distribution to codefendants Guy Jackson, Richard Gethers, and Deberal Rogers. Law enforcement also learned that Jackson distributed the narcotics to others, including Scarangello.

The FBI said they also intercepted numerous discussions between the crew, discussing the availability of quantities of heroin and cocaine, pricing, packaging, quantity and customer satisfaction. They said the ring tried to hide from law enforcement, including using prepaid cellular telephones with fictitious or no subscriber information, engaging in counter surveillance of law enforcement vehicles, using multiple vehicles to conduct narcotics transactions, discussing whether certain individuals might be cooperating with law enforcement and speaking in coded language.

Initial Patch report: Feds Say They've Dismantled Major Bayshore Heroin Ring