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Home/Press Release/PROSECUTOR’S SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP TAKES FIGHT BEYOND THE BORDER OF OCEAN COUNTY IN LATEST HEROIN BUST
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PROSECUTOR’S SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP TAKES FIGHT BEYOND THE BORDER OF OCEAN COUNTY IN LATEST HEROIN BUST

  Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez and Lacey Township Police Chief Michael DiBella announced today the culmination of a multi-jurisdictional cooperative investigation into drug activity impacting the Ocean area.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit conducted a cooperative multi-jurisdictional investigation with members of the Lacey Township Township Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office resulting in the arrest of four Ocean County residents and two Hudson County residents on various drug charges.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit joined forces with members of the Lacey Township Police Narcotics Unit and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force conducting an investigation into drug activity impacting the southern Ocean County area. During the course of the investigation Detectives identified Luis Quintana age 38 currently residing in Jersey City and formerly of Ocean County and Derek Simone age 32 of Lacey Township as distributing quantities of heroin in the southern Ocean area. The investigation identified residences in Lacey Township and Jersey City as being utilized by Mr. Quintana and Mr. Simone to store and distribute quantities of heroin.  Detectives also identified a 2014 Ford Mustang as being utilized by Quintana to facilitate his drug distribution activities.

Detectives were able to obtain no knock search warrants for 14 Westervelt Place Apt. 2, Jersey City NJ and 412 Sinclair Avenue, Lanoka Harbor (Lacey Twp.) NJ. Detectives also obtained a search warrant for the 2014 Ford Mustang. During the early morning  hours of November 3, 2016 Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Southern Enforcement Unit along with members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit, the Lacey Township Police Department Narcotics Unit, the Ocean Township Police Department, the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department and the Jersey City Police Department  executed simultaneous no knock search warrants at the subject residences as well as a search warrant on the 2014 Ford Mustang.  Upon executing the search warrant at 412 Sinclair Avenue, Lanoka Harbor, in addition to Derek Simone, four individuals identified as Kyle Pianetti age 24 of Lanoka Harbor, Travis Hill age 26 of Bayville and Colleen Marie age 54 of Lanoka Harbor were located inside that residence.  Upon executing the search warrant at 14 Westervelt Place Apartment 2, in addition to Luis Quintana, Ester Lopez age 36 was located inside that residence.

As a result of the investigation and the execution of the search warrants, police seized approximately 350 individual dosage units of heroin from both locations.  In addition to the seized heroin, police also seized approximately 50 grams of cocaine and approximately $3800 in cash from the Jersey City location. During the investigation detectives identified a bank account that was being utilized by Quintana to facilitate his drug distribution scheme. Police seized said bank account which contained approximately $4000.

 Ocean County Prosecutor’s Captain Jack Sramaty, who serves as the Chairman of the New Jersey County Commanders Association and is the Commander of the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group stated, “The success of this investigation is a direct result of the excellent cooperation between all involved agencies. This is a prime example of what can be achieved when law enforcement join forces to battle the heroin epidemic in New Jersey”

The following individuals were arrested and charged:

Luis Quintana, age 38, 14 Westervelt Place Apartment 2, Jersey City NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine over one half ounce with Intent to Distribute . The Honorable Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski J.S.C.  set bail on Mr. Quintana at $105,000 no ten percent. Mr. Quintana was subsequently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

quintana-photo

Derek Simone, age 32, 412 Sinclair Avenue, Lanoka Harbor (Lacey Twp.)  NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski J.S.C.  set bail on Mr. Simone at $50,000 no ten percent. Mr. Simone was subsequently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

simone-photo

Travis Hill, age 26, 37 Drake Place, Bayville NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski J.S.C.  set bail on Mr. Hill at $20,000 no ten percent. Mr. Hill was subsequently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

hill-photo

Kyle Pianetti, age 24, 748 Briar Road, Lanoka Harbor (Lacey Twp.) NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. Mr. Pianetti was released on a summons pending a future court date. No Photo available.

Colleen Marie, age 54, 412 Sinclair Avenue, Lanoka Harbor (Lacey Twp.) NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin. Ms. Marie was released on a summons pending a future court date. No Photo available.

Esther Lopez, age 36, 14 Westervelt Place Apartment 2, Jersey City NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine over one half ounce with Intent to Distribute . Ms. Lopez was released on a summons pending a future court date. No photo available.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

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