28 Busted In NJ Ring That Pumped Out 20K Heroin Bags A Month: PO

Twenty-eight people – including a son and his mother, who is a fugitive – were busted this week after prosecutors say they broke up a ring that pumped out 20,000 bags of heroin a month in New Jersey.

“Operation Finished Business” resulted in the arrests of 28 of the 32 people charged in connection with the 16-month investigation. Four individuals remain at-large, so they’re considered fugitives from justice, prosecutors announced on Monday.

The investigation revealed that members of this heroin trafficking network sold substantial quantities of fentanyl-laced heroin on a daily basis, according to prosecutors.

“Operation Finished Business” busted a large-scale heroin distribution ring that was largely based at the Jersey Shore, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. “This investigation deals a critical blow” to that network, Gramiccioni said.

It is estimated that the operation pumped out 20,000 bags of heroin monthly that carried a street value of approximately $200,000 to $400,000, according to prosecutors.

The network was run from multiple homes and apartments across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, while the heroin supply was routinely replenished with trips to Newark, according to prosecutors.

Searches pursuant to warrants at locations in Monmouth, Ocean, and Essex Counties have resulted in the seizure of 3,200 bags of heroin, approximately $12,000 cash, eight vehicles, two motorcycles and one trailer all believed to be used in connection with the illegal sale of narcotics, prosecutors said.

According to documents filed in this case and information developed during this investigation:

Anthony Distaulo, 33, of Jackson, acted as the leader of this heroin trafficking network. He is charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network, conspiracy, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and other charges.

Distaulo is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township awaiting a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for April 22 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James J. McGann (story continues below the photo).

While Distaulo acted as the leader of the heroin trafficking ring, investigators learned that eight others – including his mother – conspired with Distaulo and acted as accomplices in their efforts to distribute narcotics, prosectors said:

• Joseph Bartucci, 32, of Keansburg;
• Anthony Distaulo’s mother, Mechelle Distaulo, 52, of Brick;
• Kate Ellis, 28, of Jackson;
• James Granberg, 42, of Keyport;
• Khalil Hill a/k/a “Drama”, 35, of Newark;
• Kayleigh Leonard, 30, of Jackson;
• Vincent Mielnicki, 39, of Union Beach; and
• Matthew Rowland, 34, of Red Bank.

These eight individuals are each charged with second-degree conspiracy, first degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, first-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Bartucci, Ellis, Granberg, Hill, Leonard, Mielnicki and Rowland are being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution awaiting pretrial detention hearings on April 22 before McGann.

Mechelle Distaulo remains at-large at this time, prosecutors said.

The investigation also led to charges against 23 people who were purchasing narcotics from one or more of the distributors of this heroin trafficking network, according to prosecutors:

• Brianne Benedetto, 29, of Millstone;
• Barbara Bryk, 51, and her husband Randy Bryk, 54, both of the Port Monmouth section of
• Middletown;
• Keith Chanley, 28, of South Amboy;
• Matthew Demko, 38, of Keyport;
• Nicole Fox, 33, of Keansburg;
• Eric Greer, 55, of Morganville;
• Kyle Groat, 31, of Middletown;
• Ashley Groc, 25, of South Amboy;
• Emily Heun, 34, of the Leonardo section of Middletown;
• David Isaksen, 42, of Leonardo section of Middletown;
• Jacquelin Kelly, 53, of Keansburg;
• Veronica Lapsley, 42, of Keansburg;
• Sean LaFata, 35, of Keyport;
• Brittany Matias, 23, of Port Monmouth section of Middletown;
• DebbieJo Mezzacappa, 29, of Leonardo section of Middletown;
• Ranya Mobarak, 31, of Hazlet;
• Daniel Notaroberto, 32, of Middletown;
• Anthony Pane a/k/a “Bug”, 28, of Hazlet;
• Anthony Schiano, 30, of Keyport;
• Alfred Valli, 54, of Middletown;
• Kurt Westendorf, 60, of Keansburg; and
• Melissa Whiteman, 30, of Hazlet.

All 23 individuals were each charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, prosecutors say.

Benedetto, Isaksen, and Mezzacappa remain at-large, prosecutors said.

“The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit and Bayshore Narcotics Task Force are committed to ending the epidemic of fatal overdoses and opioid abuse that is unfortunately so prevalent in our community today,” Gramiccioni said. “Thanks to the excellent work by this team of investigators, the flow of these deadly drugs into our communityhas been significantly disrupted. Heroin, and specifically heroin laced with fentanyl, represents anunacceptable threat to lives in this community,

The investigation into this narcotics trafficking network remains active and ongoing.

Anyone with information concerning the any of the individuals charged, or the whereabouts of the defendants still at-large, should contact Detective Adam Mendes of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 ext. 4832.