Five Ocean County residents charged in multi agency narcotics and weapons probe
TOMS RIVER, NJ – A coordinated investigation spanning multiple law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of five Ocean County residents after authorities seized cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, a firearm and approximately $25,000 in cash from homes and a hotel room in Toms River and Brick Township.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, working with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force-Red Bank and several municipal police units, conducted an investigation into illegal narcotics distribution in the county. The investigation identified two residences and a hotel room in Toms River, along with a residence in Brick Township, allegedly used to store and distribute drugs.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, detectives established surveillance at the identified locations. Authorities stopped a vehicle in the Lakehurst area driven by Tyrese Lett, 25, of Toms River, with Kylah Parks, 28, also of Toms River, as a passenger. Both were taken into custody without incident.
Search warrants executed on the vehicle and a Toms River hotel room resulted in the seizure of 49 grams of cocaine, 70 grams of crack cocaine, 16 bricks of heroin, morphine pills, alprazolam pills, oxycodone pills, drug paraphernalia and approximately $25,000 in U.S. currency.
That same day, detectives observed Rameek Peace, 38, of Toms River, leave his residence and detained him near Route 37. A search of two Toms River residences led to the recovery of a Keltec 9mm firearm. Moises Martinez, 36, of Toms River, was found at one of the residences and charged with being a certain person not to possess a firearm. He remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
In Brick Township, detectives executed a search warrant at a residence and seized 20 grams of codeine, hydrocodone pills and drug paraphernalia indicative of distribution. Kyle Murrin, 39, of Brick Township, was taken into custody at the residence.
Lett faces multiple charges, including possession of five ounces or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy and several drug possession offenses. He is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Parks faces similar distribution, conspiracy and possession charges. She was released under New Jersey bail reform guidelines.
Peace was charged with distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy and being a certain person not to possess a weapon. He remains lodged in jail pending a detention hearing.
Murrin was charged with possession of hydrocodone with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a valid prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a nuisance. He was served via summons pending court appearances.
Prosecutor Billhimer commended the participating agencies for their collaborative efforts.
The charges are accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Key Points
- Five Ocean County residents were charged following a multi agency narcotics investigation
- Authorities seized cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, a firearm and $25,000 in cash
- Several defendants remain jailed pending detention hearings