By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on April 12, Laurie Maxson, 54, of Barnegat, was sentenced by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to three years in New Jersey State Prison as a result of her previously entered guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Maxson pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on January 29, 2024.
Officials said that on July 15, 2021, acting on a tip from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the DEA, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit and Patrol Division, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit and K-9 Unit, Ocean Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of narcotics in the Ocean County area.
According to officials, the investigation identified a residence in Barnegat as being utilized by Laurie Maxson to illegally store and distribute pain medication throughout New Jersey.
Officials say on July 20, 2021, detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies established surveillance on the subject residence in Barnegat.
Detectives maintained surveillance on both Laurie Maxson and her husband, Jason Maxson, as they left the residence and entered a 2021 Honda Accord, authorities say.
Ocean County officials stated that officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle, and the Maxsons were arrested without incident.
Law enforcement subsequently executed a court-authorized search warrant on the Barnegat residence; as a result, approximately 37,000 Tramadol pills – along with 3,400 pills originally believed to be Hydrocodone - were seized, officials said.
Officials stated that Jason Maxson and Laurie Maxson were both transported to Barnegat Township Police Headquarters, where they were formally charged and released on a summons pending future court appearances.
Authorities say laboratory testing later revealed that the pills originally thought to be Hydrocodone were, in actuality, Methamphetamine.
Laurie Maxson exonerated Jason Maxson at the time of her plea agreement on January 29; as such, the charges against Jason Maxson were dismissed by Judge Rahill at the time of Laurie Maxson’s sentencing, officials say.
