SEVENTEEN ARRESTED AFTER EXTENSIVE DRUG INVESTIGATIONS – The Link News

FREE STOP – An eight-month investigation into widespread illegal narcotics trafficking throughout Monmouth County has resulted in 17 arrests and the seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs from the street, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Monday.

The investigation revealed that drugs were being smuggled from Somerset and Passaic counties into Monmouth County. The perpetrators were 48-year-old Yusef A. Kearney of North Plainfield, Somerset, and 47-year-old Gerson G. Villeda Fajardo of Paterson, Passaic. Kearney was arrested on Monday, April 29, in Asbury Park and found in possession of approximately 300 grams of cocaine.

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

As a result of the investigation, it was also determined that Kearney supplied narcotics to 47-year-old Kaileem S. Davis of Tinton Falls and 37-year-old Tyking Pugh of Ocean Township. Pugh supplied narcotics to 44-year-old Sammie Boynton of Middletown, and the drugs continued to pass through Monmouth County.

The following defendants are accused of the following crimes:

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

• Fajardo is charged with first-degree trafficking cocaine, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to traffic, second-degree conspiracy to traffick cocaine, second-degree conspiracy to traffick heroin, second-degree trafficking heroin, second-degree possession of heroin with intent to traffic, third-degree possession of cocaine, and third-degree possession of heroin;
• Torres-Rivera is charged with first-degree trafficking of cocaine, first-degree operating a facility for the production of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), first-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to traffick, second-degree conspiracy to traffick cocaine, second-degree conspiracy to traffick heroin, second-degree trafficking of heroin, second-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to traffick, second-degree possession of fentanyl with the intent to traffick, second-degree possession of heroin with the intent to traffick, third-degree possession of cocaine, third-degree possession of fentanyl with the intent to traffick, third-degree possession of heroin with the intent to traffick, 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 operating 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 trafficking in cocaine, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to traffic, second-degree conspiracy to traffic in 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 conspiracy to distribute heroin in the second degree, conspiracy to distribute Xanax in the second degree, distribution of heroin in the second degree, distribution of Xanax in the second degree, possession of heroin in the second degree with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the third degree, conspiracy to possess cocaine in the third degree, distribution of cocaine in the third degree, possession of cocaine in the third degree with intent to distribute, possession of heroin in the third degree, possession of heroin in the third degree with intent to distribute, and possession of Xanax in the third degree.
• 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 resell, 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 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, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and third-degree possession of cocaine;
• Jerome A. Geathers, 45, of Howell, is charged with third-degree conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs, third-degree distribution of prescription drugs and third-degree possession of 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 conspiracy to commit third-degree cocaine possession and third-degree cocaine possession;
• Allison L. Waltsak, 51, of Tinton Falls, is charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine in the third degree and possession of cocaine in the third degree; and
• Geoffrey Melvin, 74, of Neptune Township, is charged with conspiracy to possess oxycodone in the third degree and possession of oxycodone in the third degree;
• Jason Remp, 40, of Keansburg, is charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine in the third degree and possession of cocaine

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

In addition, a total of 22 cartons intended for packaging individual doses of opioids were seized. Three of these cartons have been linked to fatal overdoses in Monmouth County in recent months.

The following individuals have been charged in this case but have not yet been arrested (photos of each individual 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, third-degree possession of heroin and third-degree possession of Xanax;
• 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 intent to distribute;

The District Attorney’s Office would like to express its sincere gratitude to the numerous agencies that assisted in this investigation, including the New Jersey State Police, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, and 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 are the result of a herculean investigative effort involving countless moving parts, all seamlessly coordinated with the help of more than two dozen other law enforcement agencies,” said District Attorney Santiago. “A criminal enterprise that poisoned our neighborhoods for nearly a decade has been thoroughly dismantled, and I cannot thank enough all of the dedicated men and women whose tireless tenacity and commitment to working together made this possible.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Emily Cartmell of the MCPO’s Drug and Criminal Enterprise Unit.

Notwithstanding this charge, each defendant is presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt after a trial at which the defendant shall have all the due process rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the laws of the State.