Toms River Man Admits Selling Cocaine In Ocean County

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River has admitted his role in distributing cocaine in the Ocean County area.

Keith Morse, 38, pled guilty on Monday before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan to possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute in connection with a series of incidents that occurred between November 2024 and February 2025 in Toms River, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Authorities determined Morse was using a home on Walnut Street to store and distribute cocaine, the prosecutor's office said. He also sold cocaine to undercover detectives on multiple occasions, authorities said.

On Feb. 6, 2025, detectives saw him entering a home in Toms River and he was arrested.

Afterward authorities seized additional of cocaine along with materials indicative of illegal drug distribution.

During surveillance on the house, detectives saw Morse meet with a person later identified as Phillip Tarver, 42, the prosecutor's office said. Detectives continued to watch Tarver as he traveled through Toms River and he was pulled over on Route 37, authorities said.

A Toms River Police K-9 Unit responded and positively identified the presence of narcotics in Tarver's vehicle, which was then towed. A court-authorized search of the vehicle turned up unspecified amounts of pills and crack cocaine, a knife and about $5,300 in cash. Tarver was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail, the prosecutor's office said.

Morse is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21, at which time prosecutors will be seeking a 10-year prison term, authorities said.

Charges against Tarver remain pending, the prosecutor's office said.