Ocean County authorities have arrested five local residents and charged them with various drug offenses following a three month-long, cooperative investigation between local police and the county prosecutor’s office.
Detectives from the prosecutor’s Narcotics Strike Force, Northern Enforcement Unit, collaborated with Lakewood and Toms River police as well as the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department to conduct an investigation into the distribution of heroin and fentanyl in the Ocean County area, the office said in a statement.
This investigation, police said, ultimately identified three Ocean County residences – specifically, 1040 Route 166 Apt. 205 Toms River; 160 Erica Rd. Lakewood; and 419 C Chatham Court, Lakewood – as being utilized by Xavier Nelson, 29, of Toms River, and others to “store and distribute quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.”
Detectives also identified two vehicles – a 2008 Black Chrysler Sebring and a 2008 Ford Edge – as being utilized by the alleged drug trafficking network to store and transport quantities of heroin and fentanyl. Based on the investigation, detectives obtained “no knock” warrants for the three residences and the vehicles.
On Wednesday at approximately 5:30am, the warrants were executed, police said. Detectives seized quantities of heroin and fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. Police also seized drug paraphernalia “indicative of the packaging and distribution of controlled dangerous substances,” the statement said.
Five individuals were charged:
Xavier Nelson, 29, of Toms River, was charged with with two counts of possession of Heroin/Fentanyl, one count of Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl over one half ounce, one count of Distribution of Heroin/Fentanyl over one half ounce, two counts of Possession of Cocaine, two counts of Possession of Cocaine under one half ounce with the Intent to Distribute, one count of distribution of Cocaine and Possession of Marijuana. Nelson is in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Pilar Rosario, 23, of Lakewood, was charged with with possession of Heroin/Fentanyl, Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl under one half ounce with the Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Heroin/Fentanyl under one half ounce and Possession of Marijuana. Pilar was released from the Ocean County Jail pending a future court date.
Shanice Reason, 26, of Toms River, was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl under one half ounce with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine under one half ounce with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of Marijuana. Reason was released pending future court date.
Domonique Swain, 22, of Toms River was charged with Possession of Marijuana. Swain was released pending a future court date.
Asianna Marlow, 19, of Lakewood, was charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute under one half ounce of Heroin/Fentanyl. A warrant has been issued for Marlow. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Marlow are asked to contact the Special Operations Group at 732-341-6150.
