'Pharmacy Of Illegal Narcotics' Seized In Drug Bust At Manchester Home, Prosecutors Say

MANCHESTER, NJ — A pair of brothers are facing drug distribution and conspiracy charges in an investigation at a Manchester that turned up what prosecutors said amounted to a pharmacy of illegal narcotics that they say was being distributed in Ocean County.

Giovanni Arroyave, 30, and Giorgio Arroyave, 27, were arrested Aug. 25 when detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Manchester as part of the investigation into drug distribution, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Also arrested were Paul Saryan, 29, of Pine Brook; Hunter Penz, 23, of Medford; Rhianna Noonan, 22, of Bridgewater, and Ryan Verlie, 26, of Bayville, all of whom were present at the home when the search was conducted, authorities said.

During detention hearings on Sept. 4, Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Becker said investigators learned the Arroyaves were shipping marijuana from Oregon to the home in Manchester for distribution, and arranged for a controlled shipment that arrived on Aug. 25, as detectives were conducting surveillance.

Authorities then searched the home and seized 121 pounds of flower marijuana, 100 pounds of THC products, 75 pounds of hashish, 40 grams of cocaine, 6 ounces of MDMA (also known as Ecstasy), 7 sheets of LSD, 25 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, and 2 pounds of methamphetamine, prosecutors said.

In addition, authorities seized $140,000 in cash from the home, the prosecutor's office said.

During the detention hearings, Becker said investigators also found receipts from a Staples in Oregon where the marijuana was being shipped from to Giovanni Arroyave's home.

While the marijuana and THC were in a main area of the home, the hashish, LSD, MDMA, cocaine and meth were found in Giovanni Arroyave's bedroom, and the psilocybin mushrooms were in Giorgio Arroyave's bedroom, attorneys said during the detention hearings.

Giovanni Arroyave was charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of more than 100 milligrams of LSD with intent to distribute, possession of more than 5 pounds of hashish with intent to distribute, possession of more than 5 ounces of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of more than 5 ounces of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and financial facilitation.

Giorgio Arroyave was charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of more than 5 pounds of hashish with intent to distribute, possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and financial facilitation.

Both were released to await further court dates, with monitoring conditions.

Saryan, Penz, Noonan and Verlie all were charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to possess more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Saryan, Penz and Noonan were released with monitoring conditions, while Verlie was charged on a summons and released to await a court appearance.

Saryan is a childhood friend of the Arroyave brothers, and was the one who made contact with the brothers, Becker said. Authorities found 1.5 ounces of marijuana in Saryan's car, plus cocaine that his defense attorney was in Noonan's purse.

His defense attorney said during the detention hearing that Saryan saw the package that was the controlled shipment of marijuana on the porch as he, Penz, Noonan and Verlie were leaving and told the Arroyaves it was there, but did not open the package.

"There's no indication he had any contact with the box when the controlled delivery was made," Saryan's attorney said.

Penz's attorney, meanwhile, argued that he had been overcharged and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Authorities said Penz had meth in his possession.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, and Aberdeen Township Police Department, collaborated on the investigation.