Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced on Monday, June 24, that a months-long investigation had led to the confiscation of drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The drugs were reportedly being transported from Passaic and Somerset counties.
According to Santiago, “Today’s announcement of arrests and seizures is the culmination of a tremendous investigative effort that involved the seamless coordination of countless moving parts, with the assistance of over 24 law enforcement agencies.”
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“The hard work and collaboration of countless dedicated men and women have successfully dismantled a criminal organization that had been poisoning our neighborhoods for nearly a decade. Their inexhaustible tenacity and commitment to teamwork are truly commendable.”
According to the investigators, Yusef Kearney, aged 48 and hailing from North Plainfield, along with Gerson Villeda Fajardo, aged 47 from Paterson, were responsible for importing drugs into Monmouth County. Kearney was apprehended on Monday, Apr. 29, and was found with roughly 300 grams of cocaine.
Prosecutors have accused Kearney of supplying drugs to Kaileem Davis of Tinton Falls and Tyking Pugh of Ocean Township. They further alleged that Pugh distributed the drugs to Sammie Boynton of Middletown, who then spread them across Monmouth County.
In May, two “stash houses” located in Long Branch and Neptune Township were searched by the police. The search resulted in the seizure of approximately 450 grams of fentanyl, 325 grams of cocaine, six pounds of marijuana, Xanax pills, a kilogram press, a pill press, several ink pads and stamps, cutting agents, and $27,350 in cash.
During the raids, authorities discovered 22 different types of folds that were being used to package individual doses of opioids. It is worth noting that three of these folds have been connected to recent overdose deaths in Monmouth County.
The charges against Kearney include distributing cocaine in the first degree, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute in the first degree, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute in the first degree, conspiring to distribute cocaine in the second degree, conspiring to distribute heroin in the second degree, distributing heroin in the second degree, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute in the second degree, possessing cocaine in the third degree, and possessing heroin in the third degree.
Fajardo faces a slew of serious charges, including first-degree distribution of cocaine, first-degree possession of cocaine with the 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 the intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine, and third-degree possession of heroin.
The list of charges against Torres-Rivera includes various degrees of drug-related offenses such as first-degree distribution of cocaine, first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, first-degree possession of cocaine with the 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 the intent to distribute, second-degree possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, second-degree possession of heroin with the 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 faces several charges, including maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility in the first degree, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute in the second degree, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute in the second degree, possession of cocaine in the third degree, possession of fentanyl in the third degree, and possession of drug paraphernalia in the third degree.
Pugh faced a series of charges, including second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin, second-degree distribution of heroin, second-degree possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, second-degree possession of marijuana with the 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 the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, third-degree possession of Xanax, and third-degree possession of drug paraphernalia.
Boynton faced a slew of charges including second-degree conspiracy and distribution of heroin and Xanax, as well as possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and third-degree charges such as conspiracy and possession of cocaine, heroin, and Xanax.
According to the charges, Davis is accused of distributing cocaine in the first degree, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute in the first degree, conspiring to distribute cocaine in the second degree, and possessing cocaine in the third degree.
Several individuals were apprehended in connection to the case, including:
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- Saeed Wilson, 47, of Long Branch, was charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and third-degree possession of cocaine.
- Algieron Pines, 29, of Middletown, was charged with third-degree possession of Xanax with the intent to distribute, third-degree possession of cocaine, fourth-degree possession of drug paraphernalia, and fourth-degree possession of prescription legend drugs.
- Darrah Bacy, 35, of Tinton Falls, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, third-degree distribution of cocaine, third-degree possession of cocaine, and third-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
- Marcus Carter, 38, of Eatontown, was charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and third-degree possession of cocaine.
- Jerome Geathers, 45, of Howell, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs; third-degree distribution of prescription legend drugs, and third-degree possession of prescription legend drugs.
- Robert Diakow, 46, of Middletown, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs, third-degree distribution of prescription legend drugs, and third-degree possession of prescription legend drugs.
- Deborah Bost, 50, of Hazlet, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine.
- Allison Waltsak, 51, of Tinton Falls, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine and third-degree possession of cocaine.
- Geoffrey Melvin, 74, of Neptune Township, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess oxycodone and third-degree possession of oxycodone.
- Jason Remp, 40, of Keansburg, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine and possession of cocaine.
According to prosecutors, there are six individuals who are currently wanted and have not yet been arrested.
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- Jeffrey Wells, 33, of Tinton Falls
- Suzzette Depolmo, 34, of Atlantic Highlands
- Christopher Johnson, 43, of Keansburg
- Ronald Remp, 44, of Keansburg
- Kurtis D. Barnes, 45, of Atlantic City
- Rasheen Yarbrough, 45, of Tinton Falls
In aiding the prosecutor’s offices of Monmouth, Passaic, and Somerset counties, as well as 21 police departments, the state police played a crucial role.
