4 Charged In Ecstasy, Cocaine, Heroin Distribution In Ocean County

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Four people are facing drug distribution charges after a two-month investigation into Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin distribution in Ocean County, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.

Orthis Allen, 33, of Bayville, Lauren Torres and Anthony Martinez, both 23 and of Toms River, and Ashley Banks, 33, of Brick, were arrested Feb. 27, as authorities searched homes in Brick, Toms River and a third town that had been under surveillance, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Authorities said Allen and Banks were seen leaving the home in Brick in a 2020 Dodge Durango on Feb. 27, and they were pulled over soon after and taken to Brick Township Police headquarters for processing.

At the same time, search warrants were executed at the three homes identified as being used in the distribution.

In Brick authorities seized 150 pills suspected to be Ecstasy and about 41 grams of suspect cocaine, they said. In Toms River, authorities seized 100 wax folds of suspect heroin/fentanyl, 15 pills of suspected to be Ecstasy, a digital scale, paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution, and two loaded 9mm firearms — one with a high-capacity magazine, he said.

Torres and Martinez were at the Toms River home when it was searched and were taken to Toms River Police headquarters for processing.

The search of the third home "revealed nothing of evidentiary value," the prosecutor's office said.

Allen was charged with distribution of MDMA, distribution of cocaine, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess MDMA with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of firearm during the commission of a narcotics offense, being a certain person not to possess a weapon, and possession of high capacity magazine. Allen is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Torres was charged with possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA, possession of cocaine, and possession of heroin. Torres was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

Martinez was charged with conspiracy to possess MDMA with intent to distribute. Martinez was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in court.

Banks was charged with possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess MDMA with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA, and possession of cocaine. Banks was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in court.

The following agencies were involved in the investigation:

• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Asset Forfeiture Unit;
• Barnegat Township Police Department and its Patrol Division, Crime Reduction Unit, and K-9 Unit;
• Brick Township Police Department Patrol Division, Street Crimes Unit, K-9 Unit, and Special Emergency Response Team;
• South Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau;
• Toms River Police Department Patrol Division, Special Enforcement Team, and Emergency Services Unit;
• Ocean County Regional SWAT Team;
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency-Atlantic City Resident Office
• Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.