Marlboro Man Admits Role In Three-County Drug Ring: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Monmouth County man has pleaded guilty in connection with a drug ring that was distributing more than 3 kilograms of cocaine per week in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

James Hemenway, 43, of Marlboro Township, pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute for his role in the ring before Ocean County Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Hemenway is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 23, at which time the state will recommend a term of seven years in state prison, he said.

Hemenway was among 24 people arrested on Oct. 26, 2021, as part of Operation Checkmate, a four-month investigation into three drug trafficking networks, Billhimer said. He was later released as a consequence of bail reform, the prosecutor said.

In addition to the arrests, authorities seized more than 4 kilograms of cocaine, more than 15 pounds of marijuana, in excess of $650,000 in cash, seven firearms (three handguns, three “ghost guns,” and one pistol grip shotgun), 10 vehicles, and additional illegal narcotics, Billhimer said.

The search warrant executed at Hemenway's home and two motor vehicles turned up about 130 grams of cocaine and $29,000 in cash, he said.

Operation Checkmate was led by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, which had about 50 additional law enforcement officers assigned on a full-time basis for the investigation, Billhimer said.

"Multiple agencies – both within and outside of Ocean County – assisted in every aspect of all three investigations," the prosecutor's office said, including the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and New Jersey State Police/Trafficking Central Unit, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Group 5, with numerous local, state and county agencies.