Fourteen Arrests Made in Coordinated Takedown by Federal and State Law Enforcement; One Defendant At Large
TRENTON, N.J. – Fifteen people were charged for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of heroin and cocaine in the Bayshore area of Monmouth and Middlesex counties, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Fourteen of the defendants (see chart below) were charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and all 15 defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Those arrested today are scheduled to have their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court. One defendant, Shavar Williams, remains at large.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From May 2017 to November 2018 the defendants and others engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in the Raritan Bayshore region of Middlesex and northern Monmouth counties.
Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that defendants Guy Jackson, Richard Gethers, and Deberal Rogers regularly obtained from defendant Gregory Gillens large quantities of heroin and cocaine for distribution. Defendant Lashawn Mealing, Jackson’s wife, also engaged in the conspiracy to distribute these illegal drugs along with her husband.
Members of the conspiracy redistributed the heroin and cocaine supplied by Gillens, for profit, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users in the Bayshore area. Based on laboratory analysis of heroin obtained via controlled purchases from a member of the conspiracy, the heroin distributed by the conspiracy is believed to contain fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid.
Law enforcement officials intercepted numerous discussions between the conspirators regarding the availability of quantities of heroin and cocaine, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction. The members of the conspiracy frequently took, and discussed taking, affirmative steps to avoid detection by law enforcement, including using prepaid cellular telephones with fictitious or no subscriber information, engaging in counter surveillance of law enforcement vehicles, using multiple vehicles to conduct narcotics transactions, discussing whether certain individuals might be cooperating with law enforcement, and speaking in coded language to disguise the illicit nature of their discussions.
The heroin and cocaine conspiracy counts charged in the complaint each carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, Jersey Shore Gang and Criminal Organization Task Force (including representatives from the Bradley Beach, Brick, Howell, Toms River, Union Beach and Marlboro police departments, and the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; special agents of the FBI, Philadelphia Division, Scranton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster; the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent; the Matawan Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Falco, Jr.; the Holmdel Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Mioduszewski; the Highlands Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Burton; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni; the Old Bridge Police Department, under the direction of Chief William A. Volkert; the Keansburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief James K. Pigott; the Hazlet Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Meehan; and the Aberdeen Police Department, under the direction of Chief John T. Powers, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. U.S. Attorney Carpenito also thanked the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Shaun Golden; the Monmouth County Police Academy, under the direction of Director Darryl G. Breckenridge; and the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, under the direction of Warden Donald Sutton; for their logistical support.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Name
Age
Residence
Guy Jackson
46
Effort, Pennsylvania
Gregory Gillens
46
Hillside, New Jersey
Lashawn Mealing
47
Effort, Pennsylvania
Richard Gethers
43
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Deberal Rogers
46
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Krystal Cordoba
33
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Daniel Alfano
44
Keansburg, New Jersey
Daniel McHugh
48
Sayreville, New Jersey
Tyler Scarangello
33
Belford, New Jersey
David Nagy
41
Old Bridge, New Jersey
Christy Dube
33
Cliffwood, New Jersey
George Holiday, Sr.
47
Union Beach, New Jersey
*Daryl Jackson
45
Old Bridge, New Jersey
Shavar Williams
43
Cliffwood, New Jersey
Brian Hall
47
Howell, New Jersey
*Defendant only charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
