PROSECUTOR CORONATO CONTINUES HIS INITIATIVES TO SLAM DOOR ON DRUG DEALERS

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today the culmination of a month long multi agency investigation into drug activity in the Ocean County area.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit conducted a cooperative multi agency drug investigation with the Barnegat Township Police Department, Ocean Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department, the Lakewood Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department that resulted in the arrest of an Ocean County man on various drug and weapons charges. During the course of the investigation, Detectives obtained a no knock search warrant for the residence of Virgilio Lopez-Olivera located at 580 Marc Drive, Lakewood NJ.

During the afternoon hours of Saturday, September 12, 2015, Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Southern Enforcement Unit, the Northern Enforcement Unit along with members of the listed agencies, with the assistance of the Lakewood Township Police SWAT Team executed the no knock search warrant at the subject residence. As a result of the investigation and the execution of the search warrant, police seized approximately 2700 individual dosage units of heroin. During the execution of the search warrant, Police also seized a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun along with $6000 in drug proceeds. Also, during the course of the month long investigation a .22 caliber rifle was obtained from Mr. Lopez-Olivera. A 2012 Chevrolet Cruz black in color was also identified as being used to facilitate the drug distribution activities of Mr. Lopez-Olivera. The Chevrolet Cruz has been seized pending forfeiture actions.

Virgilio Lopez-Olivera age 23 of 580 Marc Drive, Lakewood NJ was arrested and charged with three counts of Possession of Heroin, two counts of Possession of Heroin under one half ounce with Intent to Distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a CDS offense, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of distribution of heroin and one count of possession of heroin over one half ounce with intent to distribute. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Patricia Roe JSC set bail at $300,000 cash for Mr. Lopez-Olivera who was subsequently housed in the Ocean County Jail

VIRGILIO LOPEZ-OLIVERA

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Photographs of the arrested individual are available on the Ocean County Jail’s web site.