Cliffwood Man Helped Run Monmouth County Drug Ring, Feds Say

MATAWAN, NJ — In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday morning, Aug. 22, the FBI made up to 20 arrests in a Bayshore-area drug ring, which the feds say sold cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Monmouth County.

The drugs originated in Neptune and Red Bank and were sold throughout northern Monmouth and into Brick.

Of the 20 people charged, many of them were arrested early this morning, Thursday, Aug. 22, in their homes. This raid was done by agents working out of the FBI's Red Bank field office.

One of the top distributors of the ring lives in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, police say. Damion Helmes, 39, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, obtained regular supplies of cocaine from Derrick Hayes, 37, of Neptune and Dequan Copeland, 40, of Red Bank.

Helmes then converted the pure cocaine into crack cocaine, which he sold to other distributors, sub-dealers and users throughout Monmouth County, charge the feds. The drugs were sold in Aberdeen, Keansburg, Matawan, Keyport, Red Bank, Long Branch, Neptune, and Asbury Park, as well as Brick Township in Ocean County.

“We know it is a way of life for drug dealers to pollute their neighborhoods with toxic substances so they can profit," said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Greg Ehrie, from their Newark field office. "It is the FBI's way of life to use dogged determination to find those who are doing the most damage, get them off the streets, and help our local and federal prosecutors put them out of business so the neighborhoods might recover."

"Our job is made easier when community members take a stand and report any illegal activity they witness," he added.

In total, twenty people have been charged for their roles as members of the ring, or as being associates and suppliers.

One person is being sought, but 19 of the accused have been arrested, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said Thursday.

All 20 charged are:

• Damion Helmes, 29, Cliffwood
• Derrick Hayes, 37, Neptune
• Dequan Copeland, 40, Red Bank
• Dawn Stephens, 38, Keansburg
• Shantay Walker, 42, Howell
• Keith Logan, 38, Long Branch
• Shamar Dudley, 42, Long Branch
• Cassius Williams, Keyport
• Tonya Underwood, 36, Matawan
• Michelle Torrez, 44, Matawan
• Elizabeth Conover 28, Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge
• Curtis Jenkins, 36, Keyport
• Ralph Lee, 40, Keyport
• Jermaine Hicks, 39, Wall
• Skyler Rogers, 35, Cliffwood
• Terry Haupt, 35, Neptune
• Amad Jones, 37, Long Branch
• Eric Yarbrough, 28, Keansburg
• Rondell Hill, 35, Lakewood
• Malcolm Gatson, 45, Cliffwood

All but Keith Logan have been arrested, Carpenito said.

They are charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine or 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. Many are scheduled for initial court appearances Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois H. Goodman in Trenton federal court.

The FBI has been conducting surveillance on the ring from April 2019 through August, they say. The FBI did court-authorized wiretaps that intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity and customer satisfaction.

Charges for each:

Helmes, of Cliffwood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Hayes, of Neptune, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Copeland, of Red Bank, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Stephens, of Keansburg, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Walker, of Howell, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Logan, of Long Branch, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison. Logan was still being sought by authorities.

Dudley, of Long Branch, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Williams, of Keyport, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Underwood, of Matawan, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Torrez, of Matawan, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Conover, of Laurence Harbor, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Jenkins, of Keyport, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Lee, of Keyport, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Hicks, of Wall, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Rogers, of Cliffwood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Haupt, of Neptune, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Jones, of Long Branch, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Yarbrough, of Keansburg, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Hill, of Lakewood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Gatson, of Cliffwood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

The investigation was led by the FBI Newark Division's Red Bank office and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, and included assistance from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, and the Howell, Aberdeen, Red Bank, Hazlet, Keansburg, Highlands, Holmdel, Middletown, Long Branch, Union Beach, and Brick Township police departments along with the Monmouth County Police Academy.