Post by BrianSullivan on Apr 30, 2010 16:06:30 GMT -5
www.app.com/article/20100430/NEWS/100430069/17-arrested-in-Freehold-based-drug-ring-cops-say
Federal, county and local authorities arrested members of a Freehold-based narcotics operation that peddled various drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and painkillers, officials said.
Some 17 people have been arrested as part of the investigation, including a mother
and daughter from Freehold, and a father and son from Union and Ocean counties.
The investigation was launched in the fall, when an undercover officer bought cocaine from someone who was a member of that drug network, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Authorities said they then used "additional investigative tools,'' to identify other members of that network, which distributed throughout Monmouth County cocaine, heroin, marijuana, Oxycontin, Suboxone and ketamine, often called Special K.
Most of the arrests were made earlier today, and police also seized some $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
"These arrests demonstrate our collective resolve to investigate and prosecute these significant drug offenses,'' Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said in a news release. "We will continue our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to protect our communities.''
Initially, detectives focused on Pedro DeJesus' heroin distribution, they said. Police determined DeJesus, a/k/a "Peto," 36, of Freehold, supplied various drugs to others in the network, authorities said.
One of his co-defendants, John Simek, 63, of Tinton Falls, is accused of selling
more than five ounces of cocaine to undercover officers on five occasions between January and March, authorities said.
Another co-defendant, Monica Greiner, 35, of Matawan, is accused of selling 16
Oxycodone pills to an undercover detective during that time frame, authorities said.
On April 16, police pulled over a Ford F-150 pick-up truck, driven by Hector Sostre,
48, of Freehold, authorities said.
DeJesus was a passenger, and during a search, police found a large plastic bag of suspected cocaine, hidden in the dashboard behind the radio system, authorities said. Police said they also seized Suboxone (a painkiller), suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and packaging material.
(2 of 2)
Both men were arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled
dangerous substance and two counts of conspiracy to possess CDS with intent to
distribute. Bail for both men was set at $50,000.
DeJesus posted bail the next day, but he was taken into custody again today on a new charge of conspiracy to distribute CDS. He was sent to the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, with bail set at $500,000. He cannot be released without a
hearing to determine the source of any bail that may be posted.
"The tentacle of drug trafficking groups reach up and down,'' John G. McCabe, acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - New Jersey Division said in a news release. "D.E.A. works with our law enforcement partners at all levels and we will continue to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.''
Also charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS were: Greiner, Simek, Sostre, Justin
M. Calderone, 28, of Howell; Irma Pagan, 44, and her daughter, Erica Pagan, 23, both of Freehold; Steven C. Cordova, 29, of Freehold; Gerald W. Pellegrini, 41, of Freehold; Thomas Durante Sr., 53, of Roselle, and his son, Andrew J. Durante, 21, of Toms River; Antonio E. Santos, 38, of New York City; Joshua G. Slanovits, 27, of Jackson; and Darrin Vasta, 43, of Jackson.
Greiner and Simek are also charged with possession of CDS, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution. Simek is facing additional charges of first-degree drug possession with intent to distribute and distribution.
Michael J. Palmieri, III, of Manalapan, was charged with possession of CDS,
possession with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a handgun; and possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense.
Charged with conspiracy to possess CDS were Scott Getta, 29, of Jackson and Anthony J. Malacow, 31, of Seaside Heights. Their bail was set at $50,000 each.
Bail for Simek and Santos was set at $500,000.
Palmieri's bail was set at $200,000.
Sostre's bail is $150,000 on the new charges.
Bail was also set at $150,000 for Greiner, Cordova, Pellegrini, Thomas Durante Sr.,
and Vasta.
Bail was set at $100,000 for Calderone, Irma Pagan, Erica Pagan, Andrew Durante, and Slanovits.
Santos is being held in New York, pending extradition proceedings. The other
defendants were sent to the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township. Most of their bails are cash-only and bail source hearings are a condition of release for most of the defendants.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration -- New Jersey Division, U.S. Marshal Service, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Ocean County Sheriff's
Department, and Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Matawan, Ocean Township and Toms River police handled the investigation.
Federal, county and local authorities arrested members of a Freehold-based narcotics operation that peddled various drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and painkillers, officials said.
Some 17 people have been arrested as part of the investigation, including a mother
and daughter from Freehold, and a father and son from Union and Ocean counties.
The investigation was launched in the fall, when an undercover officer bought cocaine from someone who was a member of that drug network, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Authorities said they then used "additional investigative tools,'' to identify other members of that network, which distributed throughout Monmouth County cocaine, heroin, marijuana, Oxycontin, Suboxone and ketamine, often called Special K.
Most of the arrests were made earlier today, and police also seized some $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
"These arrests demonstrate our collective resolve to investigate and prosecute these significant drug offenses,'' Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said in a news release. "We will continue our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to protect our communities.''
Initially, detectives focused on Pedro DeJesus' heroin distribution, they said. Police determined DeJesus, a/k/a "Peto," 36, of Freehold, supplied various drugs to others in the network, authorities said.
One of his co-defendants, John Simek, 63, of Tinton Falls, is accused of selling
more than five ounces of cocaine to undercover officers on five occasions between January and March, authorities said.
Another co-defendant, Monica Greiner, 35, of Matawan, is accused of selling 16
Oxycodone pills to an undercover detective during that time frame, authorities said.
On April 16, police pulled over a Ford F-150 pick-up truck, driven by Hector Sostre,
48, of Freehold, authorities said.
DeJesus was a passenger, and during a search, police found a large plastic bag of suspected cocaine, hidden in the dashboard behind the radio system, authorities said. Police said they also seized Suboxone (a painkiller), suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and packaging material.
(2 of 2)
Both men were arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled
dangerous substance and two counts of conspiracy to possess CDS with intent to
distribute. Bail for both men was set at $50,000.
DeJesus posted bail the next day, but he was taken into custody again today on a new charge of conspiracy to distribute CDS. He was sent to the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, with bail set at $500,000. He cannot be released without a
hearing to determine the source of any bail that may be posted.
"The tentacle of drug trafficking groups reach up and down,'' John G. McCabe, acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - New Jersey Division said in a news release. "D.E.A. works with our law enforcement partners at all levels and we will continue to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.''
Also charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS were: Greiner, Simek, Sostre, Justin
M. Calderone, 28, of Howell; Irma Pagan, 44, and her daughter, Erica Pagan, 23, both of Freehold; Steven C. Cordova, 29, of Freehold; Gerald W. Pellegrini, 41, of Freehold; Thomas Durante Sr., 53, of Roselle, and his son, Andrew J. Durante, 21, of Toms River; Antonio E. Santos, 38, of New York City; Joshua G. Slanovits, 27, of Jackson; and Darrin Vasta, 43, of Jackson.
Greiner and Simek are also charged with possession of CDS, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution. Simek is facing additional charges of first-degree drug possession with intent to distribute and distribution.
Michael J. Palmieri, III, of Manalapan, was charged with possession of CDS,
possession with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a handgun; and possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense.
Charged with conspiracy to possess CDS were Scott Getta, 29, of Jackson and Anthony J. Malacow, 31, of Seaside Heights. Their bail was set at $50,000 each.
Bail for Simek and Santos was set at $500,000.
Palmieri's bail was set at $200,000.
Sostre's bail is $150,000 on the new charges.
Bail was also set at $150,000 for Greiner, Cordova, Pellegrini, Thomas Durante Sr.,
and Vasta.
Bail was set at $100,000 for Calderone, Irma Pagan, Erica Pagan, Andrew Durante, and Slanovits.
Santos is being held in New York, pending extradition proceedings. The other
defendants were sent to the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township. Most of their bails are cash-only and bail source hearings are a condition of release for most of the defendants.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration -- New Jersey Division, U.S. Marshal Service, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Ocean County Sheriff's
Department, and Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Matawan, Ocean Township and Toms River police handled the investigation.