Over 20 people charged in connection with Monmouth County heroin ring
With these multi-defendant cases, there are two types of defendants: those with the good lawyers and those with something else. Speed is a big factor. As a good lawyer, you have to jump on this case to try to work out the best deal for your client. Your job is to put the best deal on the table right away. If the client doesn’t want it, its time to prepare for trial.
On November 16 and 17, 2009, Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Old Bridge Police Department, the Sayreville Police Department, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office arrested Dectric Rawls, a/k/a “Low,” 29, of Matawan, NJ, and twenty of his associates, on criminal complaints charging them with numerous crimes relating to heroin distribution activities. Members of the Aberdeen Township, Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet Township, Highlands, Holmdel Township, Keansburg, Keyport, Matawan, Middletown Township and Union Beach Police Departments provided officers who worked as members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office which specifically targeted narcotics activity in those towns which are collectively known as the Bayshore area of Monmouth County. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Lakewood Police Department assisted with the arrests.
The arrests followed a comprehensive investigation which was commenced by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office after law enforcement authorities received information indicating that Dectric Rawls was responsible for distributing significant amounts of heroin in the Bayshore area of Monmouth County. During the investigation, Dectric Rawls used his associates, including Jessica Henderson and Jacquelin Wiedemeyer, to sell heroin to undercover detectives on various dates. The investigation revealed that Dectric Rawls sold approximately 100 bricks of heroin, with a street value of approximately $25,000, each week. A “brick” of heroin typically contains 50 glassine bags of heroin.
On November 16, 2009, law enforcement officers executed a search of Dectric Rawls’ residence on Fredwood Place in Matawan. The search resulted in the seizure of approximately 63 bricks of heroin, a Lorcin .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun and $28,766. The “bricks” of heroin have a weight of approximately three ounces and a street value of approximately $15,000. A 2001 GMC Yukon belonging to Dectric Rawls, which he utilized during his drug distribution activities, was also seized.
The search of Dectric Rawls’ residence led detectives to a storage facility in Morganville, New Jersey. Later the same day, detectives conducted a search of a storage unit at that facility 2
which was rented by Dectric Rawls. A safe located inside the storage unit contained an additional $258,491.
Rawls was arrested and charged with the first degree crime of being a Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network, and the third degree crimes of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity and Conspiracy to Commit the foregoing Offenses. As a result of the search of his residence, additional second degree charges of Certain Persons not to Possess Weapons, Possession of a Weapon During the Course of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute were filed against Rawls. The Honorable Lawrence M. Lawson, A.J.S.C., set bail on the charges at $1,250,000 cash only. Additionally, a bail source hearing is required prior to the posting of any bail. Rawls is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of bail.
Amanda Strohkirch was inside Rawls’ residence when officers conducted the search of that location. Strohkirch was taken into custody on third degree charges of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance. The Honorable Thomas F. Scully, P.J.S.C., set bail for these offenses at $50,000 with no ten percent option. As a result of the searches, Strohkirch was additionally charged with the second degree offenses of Possession of a Weapon During the Course of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance With Intent to Distribute. The Honorable Lawrence M. Lawson, A.J.S.C., set bail on the additional charges at $150,000 cash only. Additionally, a bail source hearing is required prior to the posting of any bail. Stohkirch is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of bail. A 2001 Chrysler 300 belonging to Amanda Strohkirch, which she utilized during her drug distribution activities on behalf of Rawls, was also seized.
In furtherance of the investigation, a search was conducted of Daryel Rawls’ residence on Albert Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey. Daryel Rawls is Dectric Rawls’ brother. As a result of that search, 37 bricks of heroin and $5,300 in cash were recovered. Daryel Rawls was charged with the second degree crime of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute and the third degree crime of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Bail for Daryel Rawls was set at $25,000 with no ten percent option by Municipal Court Judge Scott J. Basen. Daryel Rawls remains in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of bail.
On November 16 and 17, 2009, law enforcement officers affected arrests of 17 additional members of Dectric Rawls’ heroin distribution network. The following individuals were arrested and charged with the third degree crimes of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance and had their bail set at $25,000 with no 10 percent option by the Honorable Lawrence M. Lawson, A.J.S.C., or the Honorable Thomas F. Scully, P.J.S.C., as indicated:
Brandon Vashey, 20, of Krueger Place, Middletown, NJ (Hon. Thomas F. Scully)
Jessica Henderson, 19, of Oregon Avenue, Middletown, NJ (Hon. Thomas F. Scully)
Joseph Plaia, 52, of Willow Street, Highlands, NJ (Hon. Thomas F. Scully) 3
Joseph Dube, 25, of Brookside Avenue, Cliffwood Beach, NJ (Hon. Thomas F. Scully)
John Puglisi, Jr., 31, of Forest Avenue, Keansburg, NJ (Hon. Thomas F. Scully)
Kevin Craven, 24, of Sealey Avenue, Keansburg, NJ (Hon. Lawrence M. Lawson)
Russell K. Dunn, 22, of Highland Avenue, Leonardo, NJ (Hon. Lawrence M. Lawson)
The following individuals were arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance and had their bail set at $25,000 with no 10 percent option by the Honorable Lawrence M. Lawson, A.J.S.C.:
Dawn M. Pastor, 37, of Beachway Avenue, Keansburg, NJ
Shara Coppola, 22, of Forest Avenue, Keansburg, NJ
Peter J. Slover, 27, of 6th Street, Union Beach, NJ
Christine Jenkins, 24, of Highland Avenue, Hazlet, NJ
John W. Maynard, 28, of Oceanport Avenue, Little Silver, NJ
Andrea J. Ray, 24, of Bristel Road, Holmdel, NJ
Anthony Galluccio, 19, of Clark Place, Middletown, NJ
Casey Vota, 22, of Olivia Place, Matawan, NJ
Robin Ruff, 24, of Fleetwood Drive, Hazlet, NJ
Jacquelin Wiedemeyer, 19, of Leonardville Road, Belford, NJ, was charged with two counts each of the third degree crimes Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, for selling heroin to an undercover detective on behalf of Dectric Rawls on two separate occasions. The Honorable Lawrence M. Lawson, A.J.S.C., set her bail at $100,000 with no ten percent option.
While the investigation was still in progress on October 8, 2009, Joel Benitez, 25 of Freehold, purchased three bricks of heroin from Rawls. Police immediately arrested him and after a brief struggle he was placed in custody. The heroin was recovered, and Benitez was charged with the second degree crimes of Attempting to Disarm a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer. Benitez was also charged with the third degree crimes of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute and Resisting Arrest. Benitez remains incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of $220,000 bail with no ten percent option set by Municipal Court Judge Scott J. Basen.
I’ll call you back and I won’t curse you off
Got a great new client today. I feel really bad for this woman. She hired an attorney for her son who is facing a number of charges. It seems like this attorney did nothing and never called her. When she finally got him on the phone, he refused to go see her son in jail and he cursed her off. As a professional, there is no reason for that. I know some people can be difficult, but she is really nice.
She was really worried that the same thing would happen again. I assured her that I did not build a state-wide practice with only three attorneys buy not calling back my clients and then cursing them off when they got me on the phone! Since she has my cell phone number, I don’t think she’ll ever have a problem tracking me down.
My job might not be easy, but its times like this that I just love what I do. I’m going to show her how a real attorney fights for her son!
Interference with Transportation, 2C:33-14
Interference with Transportation, 2C:33-14
A person is guilty of interference with transportation if the person purposely or knowingly:
(1) casts, shoots or throws anything at, against or into any vehicle, railroad car, trolley car, subway car, ferry, airplane, or other facility of transportation; or
(2) casts, shoots, throws or otherwise places any stick, stone, object or other substance upon any street railway track, trolley track or railroad track; or
(3) endangers or obstructs the safe operation of motor vehicles by casting, shooting, throwing or otherwise placing any stick, stone, object or other substance upon any highway or roadway; or
(4) unlawfully climbs into or upon any railroad car, either in motion or standing on the track of any railroad company in this State; or
(5) unlawfully disrupts, delays or prevents the operation of any train, bus, jitney, trolley, subway, airplane or any other facility of transportation. The term “unlawfully disrupts, delays or prevents the operation of” does not include non-violent conduct growing out of a labor dispute as defined in N.J.S.2A:15-58; or
(6) endangers or obstructs the safe operation of motor vehicles by using a traffic control preemption device to interfere with or impair the operation of a traffic control signal as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
As used in this subsection, “traffic control preemption device” means an infrared transmitter or other device which transmits an infrared beam, radio wave or other signal designed to change, alter, or disrupt in any manner the normal operation of a traffic control signal.
b. Interference with transportation is a disorderly persons offense.
c. Interference with transportation is a crime of the fourth degree if the person purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person or causes pecuniary loss in excess of $500 but less than $2000.
d. Interference with transportation is a crime of the third degree if the person purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes significant bodily injury to another person or causes pecuniary loss of $2000 or more, or if the person purposely or knowingly creates a risk of significant bodily injury to another person.
e. Interference with transportation is a crime of the second degree if the person purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Sale of cigarettes to persons under age 19, 2C:33-13.1
Sale of cigarettes to persons under age 19, 2C:33-13.1
a. A person who sells or gives to a person under 19 years of age any cigarettes made of tobacco or of any other matter or substance which can be smoked, or any cigarette paper or tobacco in any form, including smokeless tobacco, including an employee of a retail dealer licensee under P.L.1948, c.65 (C.54:40A-1 et seq.) who actually sells or otherwise provides a tobacco product to a person under 19 years of age, shall be punished by a fine as provided for a petty disorderly persons offense. A person who has been previously punished under this section and who commits another offense under it may be punishable by a fine of twice that provided for a petty disorderly persons offense.
b. The establishment of all of the following shall constitute a defense to any prosecution brought pursuant to subsection a. of this section:
(1) that the purchaser or recipient of the tobacco product falsely represented, by producing either a driver’s license or non-driver identification card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, a similar card issued pursuant to the laws of another state or the federal government of Canada, or a photographic identification card issued by a county clerk, that the purchaser or recipient was of legal age to purchase or receive the tobacco product;
(2) that the appearance of the purchaser or recipient of the tobacco product was such that an ordinary prudent person would believe the purchaser or recipient to be of legal age to purchase or receive the tobacco product; and
(3) that the sale or distribution of the tobacco product was made in good faith, relying upon the production of the identification set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the appearance of the purchaser or recipient, and in the reasonable belief that the purchaser or recipient was of legal age to purchase or receive the tobacco product.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Smoking in Public, 2C:33-13
Smoking in Public, 2C:33-13
a. Any person who smokes or carries lighted tobacco in or upon any bus or other public conveyance, except group charter buses, specially marked railroad smoking cars, limousines or livery services, and, when the driver is the only person in the vehicle, autocabs, is a petty disorderly person. For the purposes of this section, “bus” includes school buses and other vehicles owned or contracted for by the governing body, board or individual of a nonpublic school, a public or private college, university, or professional training school, or a board of education of a school district, that are used to transport students to and from school and school-related activities; and the prohibition on smoking or carrying lighted tobacco shall apply even if students are not present in the vehicle.
b. Any person who smokes or carries lighted tobacco in any public place, including but not limited to places of public accommodation, where such smoking is prohibited by municipal ordinance under authority of R.S.40:48-1 and 40:48-2 or by the owner or person responsible for the operation of the public place, and when adequate notice of such prohibition has been conspicuously posted, is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense. Notwithstanding the provisions of 2C:43-3, the maximum fine which can be imposed for violation of this section is $200.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Maintaining a nuisance, 2C:33-12
Maintaining a nuisance, 2C:33-12
A person is guilty of maintaining a nuisance when:
a. By conduct either unlawful in itself or unreasonable under all the circumstances, he knowingly or recklessly creates or maintains a condition which endangers the safety or health of a considerable number of persons;
b. He knowingly conducts or maintains any premises, place or resort where persons gather for purposes of engaging in unlawful conduct; or
c. He knowingly conducts or maintains any premises, place or resort as a house of prostitution or as a place where obscene material, as defined in N.J.S. 2C:34-2 and N.J.S. 2C:34-3, is sold, photographed, manufactured, exhibited or otherwise prepared or shown, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:34-2, N.J.S. 2C:34-3, and N.J.S. 2C:34-4.
A person is guilty of a disorderly persons offense if the person is convicted under subsection a. or b. of this section. A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the person is convicted under subsection c. of this section.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Defacement of private property, graffiti, 2C:33-11
Defacement of private property, graffiti, 2C:33-11
A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely defaces or damages, without authorization of the owner or tenant, any private premises or property primarily used for religious, educational, residential, memorial, charitable, or cemetery purposes, or for assembly by persons for purpose of exercising any right guaranteed by law or by the Constitution of this State or of the United States by placing thereon a symbol, an object, a characterization, an appellation, or graffiti that exposes another to threat of violence.
A person convicted of an offense under this section that involves an act of graffiti may, in addition to any other penalty imposed by the court, be required either to pay to the owner of the damaged property monetary restitution in the amount of pecuniary damage caused by the act of graffiti or to perform community service, which shall include removing the graffiti from the property, if appropriate. If community service is ordered, it shall be for either not less than 20 days or not less than the number of days necessary to remove the graffiti from the property.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Harassment, 2C:33-4
Harassment, 2C:33-4
Except as provided in subsection e., a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, with purpose to harass another, he:
a. Makes, or causes to be made, a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm;
b. Subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatens to do so; or
c. Engages in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person.
A communication under subsection a. may be deemed to have been made either at the place where it originated or at the place where it was received.
e. A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, in committing an offense under this section, he was serving a term of imprisonment or was on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, any other state or the United States.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
False public alarms, 2C:33-3
False public alarms, 2C:33-3
2C:33-3. False Public Alarms. a. Except as provided in subsection b. or c. of this section, a person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he initiates or circulates a report or warning of an impending fire, explosion, bombing, crime, catastrophe or emergency knowing that the report or warning is false or baseless and that it is likely to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transport, or to cause public inconvenience or alarm. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he knowingly causes such false alarm to be transmitted to or within any organization, official or volunteer, for dealing with emergencies involving danger to life or property.
b. A person is guilty of a crime of the second degree if in addition to the report or warning initiated, circulated or transmitted under subsection a. of this section, he places or causes to be placed any false or facsimile bomb in a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transport or in a place likely to cause public inconvenience or alarm. A violation of this subsection is a crime of the first degree if it occurs during a declared period of national, State or county emergency.
c. A person is guilty of a crime of the second degree if a violation of subsection a. of this section in fact results in serious bodily injury to another person or occurs during a declared period of national, State or county emergency. A person is guilty of a crime of the first degree if a violation of subsection a. of this section in fact results in death.
d. For the purposes of this section, “in fact” means that strict liability is imposed. It shall not be a defense that the death or serious bodily injury was not a foreseeable consequence of the person’s acts or that the death or serious bodily injury was caused by the actions of another person or by circumstances beyond the control of the actor. The actor shall be strictly liable upon proof that the crime occurred during a declared period of national, State or county emergency. It shall not be a defense that the actor did not know that there was a declared period of emergency at the time the crime occurred.
e. A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the person knowingly places a call to a 9-1-1 emergency telephone system without purpose of reporting the need for 9-1-1 service.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Loitering to obtain or distribute CDS, 2C:33-2.1
Loitering to obtain or distribute CDS, 2C:33-2.1
b. A person, whether on foot or in a motor vehicle, commits a disorderly persons offense if (1) he wanders, remains or prowls in a public place with the purpose of unlawfully obtaining or distributing a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog; and (2) engages in conduct that, under the circumstances, manifests a purpose to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog.
c. Conduct that may, where warranted under the circumstances, be deemed adequate to manifest a purpose to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog includes, but is not limited to, conduct such as the following:
(1) Repeatedly beckoning to or stopping pedestrians or motorists in a public place;
(2) Repeatedly passing objects to or receiving objects from pedestrians or motorists in a public place;
(3) Repeatedly circling in a public place in a motor vehicle and on one or more occasions passing any object to or receiving any object from a person in a public place.
d. The element of the offense described in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section may not be established solely by proof that the actor engaged in the conduct that is used to satisfy the element described in paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this section.
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, our team of tough, smart attorneys are easy to reach. We can represent you in any Federal, State or Municipal court in New Jersey. Our initial consultations are always free. For effective, aggressive representation, call us today.
Tonacchio Law LC 