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Home/Press Release/OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE HAS THE BEST WEEK EVER CLAIMS BOTH DETECTIVE & UNIT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE HAS THE BEST WEEK EVER CLAIMS BOTH DETECTIVE & UNIT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato is proud to announce coveted awards for OCPO Narcotics Unit members from two separate major New Jersey Narcotics Associations.

The first award recognition was bestowed upon a Special Operations Group Detective who was honored at two prestigious events first hosted by the NJ Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association on June 9th at Bally’s Conference Center in Atlantic City as their 2016 Central Narcotics Officer of the Year and again at the Southern Counties Narcotics Task Force Commanders Association on June 10th at the Buena Vista Country Club as their Albert Mallen Ocean County Narcotics Officer of the Year.

The OCPO Detective, who cannot be named due to his operational duties, was recognized by both organizations for successfully directing and managing a four month cooperative multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, along with other state, county and local law enforcement agencies. The investigations targeted two high level heroin distribution networks that were operating in Union, Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic counties, as well as, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The investigations labeled “Operation Broken Rule” and “Operation Sin City” began in December 2014 and culminated in April of 2015. During the early stages of the investigations confidential informants were utilized to purchase quantities of heroin from John Gonzalez, 32, a.k.a. “Sin” (Hence the name Sin City) and a high ranking blood street gang member identified as Bertrick Artis, 45, a.k.a. “King Rule” (Hence the name “Broken Rule).

The two heroin networks were responsible for the import of over a kilogram of heroin a week into Ocean County. The investigation into the “Sin City” heroin distribution network was responsible for importing pre-packaged and raw heroin into Ocean County, where it was prepared and packaged for distribution into individual dosage units. The investigation into the “Broken Rule” heroin distribution network was responsible for importing pre-packaged heroin into Ocean County, where hundreds of bricks of heroin were brought into Ocean County several times per week.

As a result of search warrants executed during operation “Broken Rule” police seized large amounts of heroin (30,000 individual dosage units), 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.

During the course of these investigations, the recognized detective successfully managed over fifty police officers from multiple local, county and state law enforcement agencies while authoring 19 Title III wiretap affidavits, numerous search and arrest warrants as well as several seizure warrants. As a result of the investigations into these heroin distribution networks police arrested 34 individuals on various drug and weapons charges, seized nearly 34,000 individual dosage units of heroin, approximately 50 grams of raw heroin, approximately $140,000 in cash, 34 motor vehicles one of which was equipped with an electronic “TRAP” utilized to conceal CDS, several firearms to include a TEC- 9 assault weapon and materials consistent with a CDS manufacturing and production facility. The heroin seized during operation “Broken Rule” and operation “Sin City” has an approximate street value of $325,000.

Finally, The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group was recognized by the NJ Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association at their June 9th event for their role in above described Operations “Broken Rule” and “Sin City”.

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