13 Indicted In Big Monmouth-Ocean County Drug Bust

NEW JERSEY – Thirteen people have been indicted as part of a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Monmouth County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Thursday.

The 13 engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated primarily in towns throughout Monmouth County – including Cliffwood, Keansburg, Matawan, Keyport, Red Bank, Long Branch, Neptune, and Asbury Park – as well as Brick Township in Ocean County, according to a release from Carpenito's office (see list of those indicted below).

The 13, who were initially charged in August, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine or 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.

The network sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine between April 2019 and August 2019, according to the release.

Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages throug court-authorized wiretap orders, law enforcement officers learned that Damion Helmes of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen obtained regular supplies of cocaine from Derrick Hayes of Neptune and Dequan Copeland of Red Bank, according to the release.

Helmes then re-distributed that cocaine, portions of which he converted into crack cocaine, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users throughout Monmouth County, accoriding to the release.

During the wiretap portion of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction, according to the release.

The following were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine:

• Damion Helmes of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen
• Dawn Stephens of Keansburg
• Shantay Walker of Howell
• Keith Logan of Long Branch
• Shamar Dudley of Long Branch
• Tonya Underwood of Matawan
• Elizabeth Conover of the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge
• Curtis Jenkins of Keyport
• Ralph Lee of Keyport
• Eric Yarbrough of Keansburg

The following were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine:

• Derrick Hayes of Neptune
• Dequan Copeland of Red Bank
• Cassius Williams of Keyport

Helmes was also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hayes was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a 10-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10 million.

The count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a five-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $5 million.