The New Jersey State Police announced today that 32 people were arrested, including a police officer and public works employee, in the takedown of two independent drug trafficking organizations operating out of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Detectives recovered from both organizations more than 4 kilograms of cocaine, over three ounces of heroin, 16 pounds of marijuana, 1,000 Xanax pills, Oxycotin and ecstasy pills, a large variety of steroids, one handgun, seven vehicles, and more than $125,000 cash.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave,” began in October of 2014 and targeted drug trafficking organizations operating in Middletown Township, Monmouth County and Beachwood Township, Ocean County.
The first organization, named the “Scattaglia Network,” was run by Ed Scattaglia, Jr., of Middletown, N.J. He is the alleged ringleader of a sophisticated drug trafficking network that distributed primarily cocaine in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Over the course of the investigation, Scattaglia allegedly used his residence as the focal point of his distribution network where he would meet with various individuals and supply them with cocaine for redistribution.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that Francisco Romero, 38, of Englewood, N.J., supplied Scattaglia with multiple kilograms of cocaine. Romero allegedly used his residence at 159 John Street, Englewood, N.J., to store bulk quantities of cocaine for distribution purposes. Detectives seized approximately one kilogram of cocaine from the Scattaglia network, valued at $40,000.
On June 2, 2014, State Police detectives and the Englewood Police Department executed a search warrant at Romero's residence. As a result of the search, detectives seized one pound of cocaine, $75,000.00 cash, an Acura TSX, and other assets valued at $50,000. That same day, a search warrant executed at Scattaglia's residence yielded approximately $15,000 cash, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and a BMW 325XI.
The second trafficking operation was dubbed the “Beachwood Network.” It operated in Beachwood Township and the surrounding area. The network was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and pharmaceutical pills.
Through various investigative means, detectives located the network’s heroin mill, which was identified as a manufacturing facility and stash-house, in Seaside Heights, N.J. On April 9, 2015, detectives arrested Barry “Buzzy” McCombs at 302 Blaine Avenue, Seaside Heights. Detectives seized more than 15 grams of raw heroin, more than 275 decks of packaged heroin, over one ounce of cocaine, and other paraphernalia consistent with the packaging and preparation of heroin.
The total drug value seized from this location was more than $10,000.
Detectives were able to locate and dismantle a second mill associated with the Beachwood Network. On April 20, 2015, investigators executed a search warrant at 828 Summer Avenue, Elizabeth, N.J., which was determined to be the source of cocaine supply for the Beachwood Network. As a result of the search warrant, Andres Genao and Jose Limardo were arrested at that location, and detectives seized 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, a kilogram press machine, and paraphernalia consistent with the operation of a manufacturing facility. The approximate drug value seized from this location was over $75,000.
As a result of Operation Tidal Wave, two public employees were arrested and charged. Former Camden County Police Officer Matthew Van Houten was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine while he was employed as a police officer. Additionally, Albert Logan, who worked for the Ocean County Road Department, was charged with hindering apprehension and loitering to purchase a controlled dangerous substance.
This case will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice under the Office of the Attorney General.
Scattaglia Network
1. Edmund A. Scattaglia Jr. Middletown, NJ (02/24/1976)
Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network - 1st degree, Distribution of Cocaine - 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine - 3rd degree, Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia - 4th degree
2. Francisco J Romero - Englewood, NJ (08/04/1977)
Distribution of Cocaine - 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine - 3rd degree.
3. Rick J. Hiemenz - Toms River, NJ (06/30/1981)
Distribution of Cocaine - 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine - 3rd degree.
4. Tabraz Mohammed - Red Bank, NJ (07/24/1980)
Distribution of Cocaine - 2nd degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 2nd degree, Possession of Cocaine - 3rd degree.
5. Mark Ugaro - Middletown, NJ (05/22/1980)
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 2nd degree
6. Scott M. Leander - Keyport, NJ (08/22/1959)
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 2nd degree
7. Michael G. Dietz - Toms River, NJ (07/11/1963)
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 2nd Degree
8. Michael J Ko - Toms River, NJ (12/27/1977)
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine - 2nd degree
9. Armando Calderon - Toms River, NJ (11/16/1972)
Loitering to Purchase Cocaine - DP
10. James J McCann - Ortley Beach, NJ (09/08/1960)
Loitering to Purchase Cocaine - DP
11. William J. Bowes 3rd - Toms River, NJ (11/01/1978)
Loitering to Purchase Cocaine - DP
12. Augusto Deleonardis - Staten Island, NY (12/31/1970)
Loitering to Purchase Cocaine - DP
13. Shawn P Cotter Jr. - Middletown, NJ (04/10/1987)
Possession of Marijuana - DP, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - DP
14. Brian J. Rosenberg – Red Bank, NJ (12/02/1984)
Contempt of Court
15. Qasim H. Mir – Edison, NJ (08/23/1979)
Contempt of Court
Beachwood Network
16. Jose M. Limardo – Newark, NJ(08/17/1992)
Distribution of Cocaine – 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – 1st degree, Maintaining a Manufacturing Facility for Cocaine – 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine – 1st degree, Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia – 3rd degree.
17. Andres M. Genao – Newark, NJ(12/11/1992)
Distribution of Cocaine – 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – 1st degree, Maintaining a Manufacturing Facility for Cocaine – 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine – 1st degree, Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia – 3rd degree.
18. Clarence D Grant, Jr. – Beachwood, NJ (10/07/1983)
Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network – 1st degree, Distribution of Cocaine – 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine – 3rd degree, Distribution of Prescription Pills – 3rd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary – 3rd degree.
19. Barry J. McCombs – Seaside Heights, NJ (02/13/1975)
Distribution of Heroin – 3rd degree, Possession of Heroin – 3rd degree, Distribution of Heroin Within 1,000 Feet of School Property – 3rd degree, Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia – 3rd degree, Possession of Marijuana – DP
20. Jesse Gorman – Toms River, NJ (04/08/1981)
Distribution of Cocaine – 1st degree, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – 1st degree, Possession of Cocaine – 3rd degree
21. Joseph D. Powers – Toms River, NJ (06/11/1986)
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS – 2nd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary – 3rd degree.
22. Bobby Hardy – Beachwood, NJ (08/21/1971)
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS – 2nd degree
23. Dennis F. Gargano Jr., Beachwood, NJ (04/24/1973)
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS – 2nd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary – 3rd degree
24. Patrick J. Cavanaugh Jr. – Bricktown, NJ (01/22/1978)
Conspiracy to Distribute CDS – 2nd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary – 3rd degree, Hindering Apprehension – 3rd degree.
25. Albert E. Logan – Beachwood, NJ (05/29/1987)
Hindering Apprehension – 3rd degree, Loitering To Purchase CDS – DP
26. Matthew R. Van Houten – Pennsauken, NJ (11/20/1986)
Possession of Cocaine – 3rd degree
27. Frank Caruso – Toms River, NJ (07/14/1985)
Possession of Cocaine – 3rd degree
28. Angela Robert – Toms River, NJ (01/04/1982)
Possession of CDS – 3rd degree
29. William T. Hiering 3rd – Seaside Heights, NJ (01/12/1984)
Loitering to Purchase CDS – DP
30. Anthony Alexander – Toms River, NJ (05/04/1985)
Contempt of Court
31. Armando Freitas – 03/21/1988 – Island Heights, NJ – Dist of Marijuana 2nd degree, Poss of Marijuana 3rd Degree, Poss. Of Prescription Pills (Xanax) 3rd Degree, Poss of Steroids 3rd Degree
32. Stefania Dockum – 08/18/1989 – Island Heights, NJ – Dist of Marijuana 2nd degree, Poss of Marijuana 3rd Degree, Poss. Of Prescription Pills (Xanax) 3rd Degree, Poss of Steroids 3rd Degree