Four Lacey Residents Arrested In Multi-Agency Probe Into Southern Ocean County Drug Activity

Four Ocean County residents and two from Hudson County are facing numerous drug charges after they were arrested after no-knock search warrants at two Lacey Township homes.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit worked with the Lacey Township Township Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force to conduct an investigation into drug activity in the southern Ocean County area.

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

Detectives identified Luis Quintana, 38, a former Ocean County man now living in Jersey City and Derek Simone, 32, Lacey Township, as distributing quantities of heroin in the Southern Ocean County area.

Quintana and Simone used homes in Lacey Township and Jersey City to store and distribute quantities of heroin, along with a 2014 Ford Mustang that Quintana used in his drug distribution activities.

Detectives were able to obtain no-knock search warrants for 14 Westervelt Place Apt. 2, Jersey City and 412 Sinclair Avenue, Lanoka Harbor, along with the 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 a simultaneous no-knock search at the homes and the car.

When they entered the home at 412 Sinclair Avenue, they found Simone, Kyle Pianetti, 24, Lanoka Harbor, Travis Hill, 26, Bayville and Colleen Marie, 54, Lanoka Harbor inside, Sramaty said.

Authorities found Quintana and Ester Lopez inside the Jersey City home.

Police seized approximately 350 individual dosage units of heroin from both locations, also 50 grams of cocaine and approximately $3,800 in cash from the Jersey City location. Detectives identified a bank account that was being used by Quintana in his drug distribution scheme. Police seized said bank account which contained approximately $4,000, he said.

The following individuals were arrested and charged:

Quintana was 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 . Ocean County Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski set his bail at $105,000 cash. Quintana was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.

Simone was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. His bail was set bail at $50,000 cash. Simone was subsequently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

Hill was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. His bail was set at $20,000 cash.Hill was subsequently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

Pianetti was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. Pianetti was released on a summons pending a future court date.

Colleen Marie was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. She was released on a summons pending a future court date.

Lopez was 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. Lopez was released on a summons pending a future court date.

Images: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.