Fifteen people were charged for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of heroin and cocaine in the Bayshore area of Monmouth and Middlesex counties.
Fourteen of the defendants – including Daniel McHugh, 48, of Sayreville, and David Nagy, 41, of Old Bridge – were charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and all 15 defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Nov. 28. Daryl Jackson, 45, of Old Bridge, was only charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from May 2017 to November 2018 the defendants and others allegedly engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that operated in the Raritan Bayshore region of Middlesex and northern Monmouth counties.
Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that defendants Guy Jackson, Richard Gethers, and Deberal Rogers allegedly regularly obtained from defendant Gregory Gillens large quantities of heroin and cocaine for distribution. Defendant Lashawn Mealing, Jackson’s wife, also allegedly engaged in the conspiracy to distribute these illegal drugs along with her husband, according to the statement.
Members of the conspiracy redistributed the heroin and cocaine supplied by Gillens, for profit, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users in the Bayshore area. Based on laboratory analysis of heroin obtained via controlled purchases from a member of the conspiracy, the heroin distributed by the conspiracy is believed to contain fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid.
Law enforcement officials intercepted numerous discussions between the conspirators regarding the availability of quantities of heroin and cocaine, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction, according to the statement. The members of the conspiracy frequently took, and discussed taking, affirmative steps to avoid detection by law enforcement, including using prepaid cellular telephones with fictitious or no subscriber information, engaging in counter surveillance of law enforcement vehicles, using multiple vehicles to conduct narcotics transactions, discussing whether certain individuals might be cooperating with law enforcement, and speaking in coded language to disguise the illicit nature of their discussions, according to the allegations.
The heroin and cocaine conspiracy counts charged in the complaint each carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million.
