Prosecutor: Bayshore-Area Drug Ring Dismantled; Drugs, Cash And Gun Seized

Investigators have dismantled a New Jersey area drug trafficking ring and seized drugs, cash and a handgun, authorities said.

The 8-month investigation by law enforcement agencies, dubbed “Operation Family Tides,” focused on the flow of heroin into the state, according to a news release from the office of acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Investigators also uncovered a Middlesex County apartment where drugs were being processed, authorities said.

Police arrested 14 people connected to a family-center heroin ring in the Monmouth County Area, and they are still searching for four more defendants, authorities said.

“Heroin addiction and fatal overdoses have become a state wide epidemic and as a result, it has become a primary focus of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit and the Bayshore Task Force. This is a significant disruption of a heroin trafficking ring that targeted the Bayshore region. As a result of the excellent work of this team of investigators, the flow of these deadly drugs into our communities has been thwarted substantially.” Gramiccioni said in a prepared statement.

According to the news release:

During the investigation, which began in the fall, investigators learned that members of the heroin ring were selling substantial quantities of heroin almost daily, and they also sold powder and crack cocaine.

They obtained “raw” or unpackaged, undiluted heroin, then recruited people to package the drug for sale.

They operated out of houses and apartments in Monmouth and Middlesex counties. The heroin was processed in Perth Amboy, and much of it was sold in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen.

Police seized a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, about 8,100 bags of heroin, four ounces of raw heroin, five ounces of cocaine and three vehicles.

The investigation revealed that Gregory “IA” Moore, 33, Terrence “T9” Brown, 37, Edward “Head” Gutridge II, 29, all of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, along with Halee Wing, 36, of East Orange, were the leaders of the heroin ring.

They were each charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, all first-degree offenses.

They were also each charged with the second-degree offenses of conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Isaiah “Zeke” Edwards, 25, of Old Bridge, Raymond “Hood” Jackson, 30, of Keyport, Bianca Edwards, 22, of Old Bridge, Joseph “Rule” Jackson Jr., 43, of Matawan and Krystal Mell, 26, of Keansburg conspired with those leaders and acted as accomplices in the drug trade.

Those five defendants were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, both first-degree offenses.

They were also each charged with the second-degree offenses of conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

As a result of the seizure of a handgun and cocaine, Gutridge and Jessica German, 21, of New York City were each charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and second-degree possession of a firearm in the course of committing a drug offense.

Investigators determined raw heroin was being processed and then packaged at an apartment on Harned Street in Perth Amboy.

As a result, charges of first-degree maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance were filed against Gutridge, Wing, Timothy Davidson, 38, of Old Bridge and Alina Alma, 24, of New York City.

Moore remains at large, but the rest of those defendants were all sent to the Monmouth County Correctional jail in Freehold Township. Brown, Gutridge and Wing are each being held in lieu $1 million bail.

Isaiah Edwards, Raymond Jackson, Bianca Edwards, Joseph Jackson Jr. and Mell are being held in lieu of $750,000 bail.

Davidson and Alma are being in lieu $500,000 bail. German’s bail was set at $75,000.

Defendants who bought drugs were also charged.

Those defendants include Ryan Murphy, 26, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen; Jason Remp, 21, of Hazlet and James Mitchell, 57, of Keansburg who were each charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Police are also still searching for Christine Owens, 44, of the West Keansburg section of Hazlet, Shannon Lecomte, 21, of Keansburg and Taheem Brown, 22, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen.

They have each been charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Authorities have released photographs of the defendants because they are asking the public to call police if they have information about the case.

Tipsters can call Detective James Powers of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.

Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.

Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

Gramiccioni credited numerous law enforcement agencies for their work on the investigation: Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Manalapan, Matawan, Middletown, Spring Lake and Union Beach police departments and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.

Gramiccioni also thanked officers from the Old Bridge, Newark, Perth Amboy and Woodbridge police departments, and members of the Essex and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Offices for their assistance.

This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Merlin K. Thomas.

If convicted:

• The charge of being a leader of a drug network carries a maximum prison term of life behind bars.
• The other first-degree charges carry terms of up to 20-years in prison.
• The second-degree offenses carry terms of up to 10-years in prison.
• And the third-degree offenses carry terms of up to 5-years in prison.