LAKEWOOD, N.J. — A 28-year-old Lakewood man has been sentenced to 12 years in New Jersey State Prison after pleading guilty to drug distribution and weapons charges stemming from a multi-agency investigation into narcotics and firearms trafficking across Ocean County.
Kyree Kennedy was sentenced on May 9 by Superior Court Judge Kimarie Rahill. He will serve 12 years for possession of more than five ounces of heroin with intent to distribute and a concurrent five-year term—with no parole eligibility—for being a certain person not to possess a firearm. Kennedy pled guilty to both charges in March.
The charges followed a coordinated investigation by local, county, and federal law enforcement agencies, which identified Kennedy and five co-defendants as part of a drug trafficking network operating from multiple locations in Lakewood between December 2023 and March 2024.
On March 28, 2024, investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant at a Cedar Bridge Avenue residence, where Kennedy was arrested without incident. Authorities seized 145 bricks of heroin/fentanyl, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and $2,800 in cash. Multiple additional search warrants executed that day led to the arrests of co-defendants and the seizure of crack cocaine, heroin, ammunition, and a firearms suppressor.
Key points
- Kyree Kennedy sentenced to 12 years in prison for heroin trafficking and firearm offense
- Multi-agency investigation led to multiple arrests and seizures in Lakewood
- Five co-defendants also charged with various drug and conspiracy offenses
Widespread investigation uncovers narcotics and weapons network
Kennedy’s arrest led to a broader enforcement operation involving coordinated raids on three other Lakewood residences. Co-defendants Kammani Wilson, Shakira Hill, Tymir Bergstrom, Tyquan Jones, and Miguel Gonzales were arrested and charged with offenses ranging from heroin and cocaine distribution to conspiracy and weapons-related charges.
While Kennedy has remained in custody since his March 2024 arrest, several of the co-defendants were released under New Jersey Bail Reform guidelines and await further court proceedings.