600 Pounds Of Marijuana, $158K, Cocaine, Percocet Seized In Ocean- Mercer Drug Probe

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Five people, including a Lakehurst woman, have been arrested in connection with an investigation into drug distribution in the Ocean and Mercer County areas, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Friday.

The arrests, on April 14, came as detectives seized 3½ ounces of cocaine, 1 ounce of Percocet pills laced with fentanyl, 1 gallon of promethazine, 600 pounds of marijuana, a loaded Performance Center M&P .380 handgun, a loaded Keltec 9mm rifle with high capacity magazine, and about $158,000 in cash, Billhimer said.

The seizures were the result of large-scale multi-agency investigation, he said, that identified three Ewing homes, a Lakehurst home and a motor vehicle in Lakewood as being used to store and distribute cocaine and marijuana by Ronald Walker and Christopher MacLeod, both of Ewing, he said.

Those arrested and the charges were:

Walker, 37, has been charged with conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of more than 1 ounce but less than 5 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of methamphetamine; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; and certain person not to possess a weapon, Billhimer said. Walker is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

MacLeod, 30, has been charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of more than 5 pounds of hashish with intent to distribute; conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of Percocet with intent to distribute; possession of Percocet; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; certain person not to possess a weapon; possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense, and financial facilitation, Billhimer said. MacLeod is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Meghan Norton, 33, of Ewing. She has been charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of more than 5 pounds of hashish with intent to distribute; conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of percocet with intent to distribute; possession of percocet; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense, and financial facilitation. Norton was transported to the Ocean County Jail; she was subsequently released by the court as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, he said.

Dana Altieri, 52, of Lakehurst. She has been charged with conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense; possession of a large capacity firearms magazine; and financial facilitation, Billhimer said. Altieri was charged on a summons and released pending a future court appearance, he said.

The following agencies were part of the investigation, Billhimer said:

• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force
• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - HIDTA Group 5
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• FBI
• Mercer County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force
• Mercer County Sheriff's Office Tactical Response Team
• Lakehurst Borough Police Department
• Ewing Township Police Department
• Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes and K-9 units
• Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team
• Elizabeth Police Department Narcotics Bureau and CCTV Division.

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