SEVENTEEN ARRESTED IN EXTENSIVE DRUGS INVESTIGATION – The Link News

FULL OWNERSHIP – An eight-month investigation into the widespread distribution of illegal narcotics throughout Monmouth County resulted in 17 arrests and the seizure of drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on the street, the prosecutor announced Monday of Monmouth County, Raymond S. Santiago.

The investigation revealed that drugs were being trafficked into Monmouth County from Somerset and Passaic counties by individuals identified as Yusef A. Kearney, 48, of North Plainfield, Somerset, and Gerson G. Villeda Fajardo , 47, of Paterson, Passaic. Kearney was arrested in Asbury Park on Monday, April 29 and found to be in possession of approximately 300 grams of cocaine.

The investigation culminated in the execution of search warrants at two locations in Paterson last month, which uncovered an active and fully functioning fentanyl factory run by Pedro Torres-Rivera, 54, and Manuel Dejesus-Polanco, 54, both of Paterson – both men were wearing surgical masks and actively packaging drugs at the time of their arrest.

The investigation also determined that Kearney supplied narcotics to Kaileem S. Davis, 47, of Tinton Falls, and Tyking Pugh, 37, of Ocean Township. Pugh was supplying narcotics to Sammie Boynton, 44, of Middletown, and the drugs continued to leak throughout Monmouth County.

The following defendants are charged with the following offences:

• Kearney is charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, second-degree distribution of heroin, second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine and third-degree possession of heroin;

• Fajardo is charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, second-degree distribution of heroin, second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine and third-degree possession of heroin;
• Torres-Rivera is charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) production facility, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, second-degree distribution of heroin, second-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine, third-degree possession of fentanyl, third-degree possession of heroin, and third-degree possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Dejesus-Polanco is charged with first-degree maintaining a CDS production facility, second-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine, third-degree possession of fentanyl and third-degree possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Davis is charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine;
• Pugh is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, second-degree distribution of heroin, second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, third-degree conspiracy to distribute Xanax, third-degree distribution of Xanax, third-degree possession of heroin, third-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, third-degree possession of Xanax and third-degree possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Boynton is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, second-degree conspiracy to distribute Xanax, second-degree distribution of heroin, second-degree distribution of Xanax, second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, third-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine, third-degree distribution of cocaine, third-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of heroin, third-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and third-degree possession of Xanax.
• Saeed Wilson, 47, of Long Branch, is charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine;
• Algieron M. Pines, 29, of Middletown, is charged with third-degree possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine, fourth-degree possession of drug paraphernalia and fourth-degree possession of prescription drugs.
• Darrah D. Bacy, 35, of Tinton Falls, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to commit Distribution of Cocaine, Third Degree Distribution of Cocaine, Third Degree Possession of Cocaine, and Third Degree Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute;
• Marcus M. Carter, 38, of Eatontown, is charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the second degree and third-degree possession of cocaine;
• Jerome A. Geathers, 45, of Howell, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute legend prescription drugs, third-degree distribution of legend prescription drugs and third-degree possession of legend prescription drugs;
• Robert Diakow, 46, of Middletown, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs, third-degree distribution of prescription drugs and third-degree possession of prescription drugs;
• Deborah A. Bost, 50, of Hazlet, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine;
• Allison L. Waltsak, 51, of Tinton Falls, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine; And
• Geoffrey Melvin, 74, of Neptune Township, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess oxycodone and third-degree possession of oxycodone;
• Jason Remp, 40, of Keansburg, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine and possession of cocaine.

Search warrants were also executed last month at two stash houses in Long Branch and Neptune Township. In summary, the execution of the search warrants resulted in the seizure of approximately 450 grams of fentanyl – including a potentially lethal dose of just 2 milligrams, enough to end the lives of 225,000 people – approximately 325 grams of cocaine, a quantity of prescription Xanax pills, 6 pounds of marijuana, a kilo press, a pill press, several ink pads and stamps, cutting agents and approximately $27,350 in cash.

A total of 22 types of envelopes intended to package individual doses of opioids were also recovered, three of which have been linked to fatal overdoses in Monmouth County in recent months.

The following individuals have been criminally charged in this case, but have not yet been apprehended (photos of each are being distributed with this press release):

• Jeffrey Wells, 33, of Tinton Falls, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, third-degree distribution of heroin, third-degree possession of cocaine and third-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute;

• Suzzette Depolmo, 34, of Atlantic Highlands, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess heroin, third-degree conspiracy to possess Xanax, third-degree possession of heroin and third-degree possession of Xanax;
• Christopher Johnson, 43, of Keansburg, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute Xanax, third-degree conspiracy to possess heroin, third-degree distribution of Xanax, possession of heroin in the third degree and possession of Xanax in the third degree;
• Ronald Remp, 44, of Keansburg, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute Xanax, third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine/heroin, third-degree distribution of Xanax, third-degree possession of cocaine, third-degree possession of heroin and third-degree possession of Xanax;
• Kurtis D. Barnes, 45, of Atlantic City, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute Xanax, third-degree distribution of Xanax and third-degree possession of Xanax;
• Rasheen Yarbrough, 45, of Tinton Falls, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine, third-degree distribution of cocaine, third-degree possession of cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute;

The Prosecutor's Office would like to sincerely thank the many agencies that assisted in this investigation, including the New Jersey State Police, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Passaic County Sheriff's Office, and the District Attorney's Office. Somerset County Prosecutor, as well as the municipal police departments of Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Belmar, Eatontown, Holmdel, Howell, Keansburg, Keyport, Long Branch, Matawan, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Spring Lake, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, Wall Township and West Long Branch.

“The arrests and seizures announced today mark the end result of a Herculean investigative effort involving countless moving elements, all perfectly coordinated with the assistance of more than two dozen other law enforcement agencies,” said District Attorney Santiago. “A criminal enterprise that has plagued our neighborhoods for nearly a decade has been completely dismantled, and I cannot praise enough all of the dedicated men and women whose tireless tenacity and commitment to collaboration made this possible.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Emily Cartmell of the MCPO's Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a trial at which he or she is afforded all the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and state law.