Barnegat drug queen ran meth trafficking operation down the shore

Barnegat Drug Queen Ran Meth Trafficking Operation Down the Shore

Posted by
1 min read
April 12, 2024

BARNEGAT, NJ – A local woman has been sentenced to three years in New Jersey State Prison for her role in a large-scale narcotics distribution network.

Laurie Maxson, 54, of Barnegat, was sentenced on Thursday by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., following her guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of methamphetamine on January 29.

The sentence was the culmination of a comprehensive investigation sparked by a tip from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in July 2021.

The investigation, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, centered on a residence in Barnegat used by Maxson to store and distribute significant quantities of pain medication across New Jersey. On July 20, 2021, surveillance led to the arrest of Laurie Maxson and her husband, Jason Maxson, after a traffic stop. Officers seized approximately 37,000 Tramadol pills and 3,400 pills initially believed to be Hydrocodone, which later tested as methamphetamine.

While Laurie Maxson faced the consequences of her actions, charges against Jason Maxson were dismissed during her sentencing, following her exoneration of him in her plea agreement.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss