OCPO: Narcotics Strike Force Arrests

OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

NARCOTICS STRIKE FORCE ARRESTS

1^ST DEGREE MAINTAINING A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE MAUFACTURING/PRODUCTION FACILITY

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the culmination of a two-month long cooperative multi-jurisdictional investigation into illegal drug activity in the Southern Ocean County area. Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Barnegat Township Police Department, Lacey Township Police Department and the Stafford Township Department to conduct an investigation into the distribution of heroin and cocaine in the Southern Ocean County area.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of four Ocean County residents on various drug charges.

Ronald Lawrence, 30, of Barnegat, NJ was arrested and charged with Maintaining a Controlled Dangerous Substance Manufacturing/Production Facility (a crime of the 1^st Degree); Possession of Heroin over one half ounce with Intent to Distribute (a 2^nd Degree crime); Distribution of Heroin over one half ounce (a 2^nd Degree crime); Possession of Heroin (a 3^rd Degree crime); Possession of Cocaine (a 3^rd Degree crime); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a Disorderly Person’s Offense). Mr. Lawrence is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Denisha Nash, 30, of Barnegat, NJ was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Distribute over one half ounce of Heroin (a 2^nd Degree crime); 2 counts of Possession of Heroin (crimes of the 3^rd Degree); Possession of Heroin less than one half ounce with Intent to Distribute (a 3^rd Degree crime); Distribution of Heroin less than one half ounce (a 3^rd Degree crime); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a Disorderly Person’s Offense). Ms. Nash was processed and released pending a future court date.

Carol Ann Budinski, 36, of Toms River NJ was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Distribute over one half ounce of Heroin (a 2^nd Degree crime); Possession of Heroin (a 3^rd Degree crime); Possession of Cocaine (a 3^rd Degree crime); Possession of Heroin less than one half ounce with Intent to Distribute (a 3^rd Degree crime); and Possession of Cocaine less than one half ounce with Intent to Distribute (a 3^rd Degree crime).  Ms. Budinski was processed and released pending a future court date.

Leashan Coleman, 29, of Barnegat, NJ was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Distribute over one half ounce of Heroin (a 2^nd Degree crime); Possession of Heroin (a 3^rd Degree crime); Possession of Heroin less than one half ounce with the Intent to Distribute (a 3^rd Degree crime); and Distribution of Heroin less than one half ounce (a 3^rd Degree crime). Ms. Coleman was processed and released pending a future court date.

On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, Prosecutor’s Strike Force Detectives, along with members of the aforementioned Police Departments and the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, executed a no-knock search warrant at the residence of Ronald Lawrence and Denisha Nash at 465 North Main Street. Both Lawrence and Nash were arrested at that time. Simultaneous with the execution of this warrant, Prosecutor’s Strike Force Detectives assisted the Toms River Police Department in executing a motor vehicle stop of a 2014 white Kia in the area of Route 37 and Mule Road in Toms River driven by Carol Ann Budinski of Toms River. A search warrant was executed on the 2014 Kia resulting in the seizure of quantities of cocaine. Strike Force Detectives also identified Leashan Coleman of Barnegat as a co-conspirator in this drug trafficking activity. Ms. Coleman was taken into custody at her home in Barnegat.

As a result of this investigation and the execution of the aforementioned search warrants, Strike Force Detectives seized approximately 1,250 glassine envelopes of Heroin, approximately 20 grams of cocaine, approximately $1,600.00 in cash and assorted items associated with the distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances and the maintaining of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Manufacturing/Production Facility, including new glassine packets, sifters, stamps, rubber bands and other packaging paraphernalia.

Participating in the arrests were Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Barnegat Township Police Department, Lacey Township Drug Enforcement Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lacey Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Stafford Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Toms River Police Department, and the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team.

The Public and the media are reminded that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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