Two Admit Roles In Large Monmouth-Ocean Heroin Ring

Two members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization have admitted conspiring to distribute hundreds of grams of heroin that had ties throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Thursday.

Valerie Resendes, 27, of Beachwood, and Rashawn Ramos, 37, of Perth Amboy, both pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court, Fishman said.

Resendes pled guilty Thursday to one count of conspiring to distribute heroin. Ramos entered his guilty plea Tuesday to one count of conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

According to a release from Fishman’s office Resendes and Ramos were members of the drug trafficking organization “Britt-Young DTO,” named after its leaders, Robert Britt and Rufus Young. They are among 21 individuals who were charged in a March 2014 complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin. Of those 21 individuals, 10 have pled guilty, Fishman said.

Also charged in that complaint were Britt and Young, both of Asbury Park; Thomas “Cuzzo” Shannon of Asbury Park; Anthony J. Brooks of San Bernardino, Calif.; Jonathon “Life” Thomas of Neptune; Antoine Harris of East Orange; Tyshon “Young Boy” Young of Asbury Park; Jason “Born” O’Neal from Farmingdale; Travis Whitfield of Brick; Jamar “Rep” Johnson of Lakewood; Dawn Rosse of Lakewood; Melissa Piana of Toms River; Kenneth “Fame” Greenhow of Asbury Park; Richard Durham from Brick; Kyle Adam from Barnegat; Kareem “Bless” Hayes of Belmar, Tyree Murray and Robert Ketcham, both of Bayville, and Matthew “Star” Miller from Neptune, according to NJ.com.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Resendes admitted that between February 2013 and March 2014, she conspired with Young and others to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties. During this time, Resendes possessed and sold more than 400 grams of heroin.

Ramos admitted that from November 2013 through March 2014, he received numerous packages of heroin and cocaine at his residence in Perth Amboy. The packages were sent from California via the U.S. Mail. Ramos later transferred the packages to another conspirator, who distributed the narcotics to others in New Jersey, including members of the Britt-Young DTO.

Altogether, Ramos received at least 1,000 grams of heroin and 1,500 grams of cocaine.

The narcotics conspiracy charge to which Resendes pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine. The narcotics conspiracy charge to which Ramos pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing for Resendes is set for March 10, 2015 while Ramos is to be sentenced March 24, 2016, respectively.

Fishman thanked special agents from the Red Bank FBI office under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron Ford and the Brick Township Police Department and Chief Nils R. Bergquist and the Toms River Police Department and Chief Mitchell Little, in particular for their help with the investigation.

Also assisting were special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge George Belsky; inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates; officers of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni; and officers of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, in the investigation, Fishman said.

Fishman also thanked the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Neptune Township, Asbury Park, Marlboro, Long Branch and Freehold police departments for their roles in the case.