Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today the culmination of two cooperative multi-jurisdictional narcotics investigations conducted by the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, along with federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies.
The investigations focused on high level heroin distributors found to be operating in Union, Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic counties, as well as, Philadelphia, PA.
The investigations, identified as Operations “Broken Rule” and “Sin City” began in December of 2014 and culminated this week. The two heroin networks were responsible for the import of over a kilogram of heroin a week into Ocean County. A kilogram of heroin equates to approximately 50,000 individual dosage units of heroin.
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato stated, “These simultaneous operations are incredible investigative feats. Beyond the approximate street value of over $325,000 in heroin seized during operations “Broken Rule” and “Sin City”, this outstanding Law Enforcement partnership has extended the reach and effectiveness of Ocean County law enforcement far beyond our borders.”
The investigation deemed operation “Sin City’ by the OCPO Special Operations Group identified Jonathan Gonzalez, 32, a.k.a. “Sin” (hence the name “Sin City”) of Pleasantville and Toms River as allegedly managing and directing a heroin distribution network in Ocean and Atlantic counties. The investigation revealed that Mr. Gonzalez was allegedly importing quantities of pre-packaged, as well as raw or uncut heroin into Ocean County for distribution.
The investigation identified locations in Toms River where Gonzalez and members of his network would prepare and package the raw or uncut heroin for re-distribution into individual dosage units.
The “Sin City” operation culminated during the evening hours of April 23, 2015, when detectives from the Special Operations Group surveilled Mr. Gonzalez along with Faythe Darling, 29, of Toms River and Miasia S. Johnson, 21, of Barnegat returning from Philadelphia with quantities of raw, uncut heroin, as well as packaging materials used to convert raw heroin into individual dosage units.
Members of the Special Operations Group, along with members of the Manchester Police Department, conducted a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle utilized by Mr. Gonzalez and two other aforementioned Ocean County residents on Route 70 in the area of Route 539 in Manchester Township that resulted in their arrest on various drug charges. Simultaneously with the arrests of Gonzalez, Darling and Johnson, members of the Special Operations Group and the partnering law enforcement agencies executed search warrants in Toms River, Barnegat, South Toms River, Brick Township and Pleasantville.
As a result of the search warrants executed during operation “Sin City”, police seized approximately 25 grams of raw heroin, quantities of pre-packaged heroin, cash, packaging materials associated with the preparation, packaging and distribution of heroin. Police also searched and seized four motor vehicles that were identified as being utilized by this drug distribution network. During the course of the second investigation, Operation “Broken Rule”, members of the Special Operations Group identified Ocean County residents specifically, Bertrick Artis, 45, a.k.a. “King Rule” (hence the name “Broken Rule”), of Lakewood and his son, Ashzon Artis, 25, also of Lakewood as allegedly importing heroin from the Elizabeth area into Ocean County. Operation “Broken Rule” culminated during the evening hours of March 31, 2015, when detectives from the Special Operations Group teamed up with members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and members of the Elizabeth Police Department.
The investigation led Ocean County Detectives to a mall in Elizabeth where Bertrick Artis, Ashzon Artis and Angelique Morris, 23, of Tinton Falls in Monmouth County were attempting to purchase quantities of heroin from Javier Cruz, 25, and Kennin Chavez, 19, from the Bronx, NY. Detectives from the Special Operations Group, Union County Narcotics Task Force and the Elizabeth Police Department subsequently arrested the aforementioned individuals who were then transported back to Ocean County. Their arrests were not announced earlier so as not to jeopardize the continuing “Sin City” operation. Simultaneously with the arrests in Elizabeth, members of the Special Operations Group and the partnering law enforcement agencies executed five search warrants in Lakewood, Toms River, Lakehurst, Barnegat, Ocean Township (Waretown) and Jackson Township.
As a result of the search warrants executed during operation “Broken Rule” police seized large amounts of heroin, cash, several illegal firearms to include an assault style firearm and packaging materials associated with the distribution of heroin. Police also searched and seized 10 motor vehicles that were identified as being utilized by this drug distribution network.
Both Operations yielded the arrest of 34 individuals on various drug and weapons charges, seized nearly 31,000 individual dosage units of heroin, approximately 25 grams of raw heroin, approximately $140,000 in cash, 14 motor vehicles (one of which was equipped with an electronic “TRAP” utilized to conceal CDS), six firearms to include a TEC- 9 assault weapon (All weapons seized in Operation Broken Rule) and materials consistent with a CDS manufacturing and production facility.
This investigation is continuing and additional arrests are forthcoming