FREEHOLD – Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Long Branch and Neptune police departments arrested two Monmouth County men and one woman Wednesday.
The arrests were the results of a four-month-long investigation into drug activity in and around Long Branch and Neptune Township, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
The investigation culminated on Wednesday, March 4, with searches executed by Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section with assistance from the Long Branch and Neptune Township police departments.
At residences in the 3600 block of State Route 33 in Neptune Township and the 200 block of 6th Avenue in Long Branch, and two motor vehicles.
The searches resulted in the seizure of over 5 ounces of cocaine, a small amount of heroin, under 50 grams of marijuana, and approximately $3,000.00 in cash, according to officials.
During this investigation, Quinones was identified as distributing cocaine in an aggregate quantity of over ½ ounce on five separate occasions in Long Branch.
The investigation revealed Vamvas was the supplier of cocaine for Quinones, and Vamvas stored the cocaine in Rodriguez’s Neptune Township apartment.
Officials say Anthony Vamvas, 28, of Long Branch, was charged with one count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, four counts of third-degree Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, two counts of third-degree.
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, three counts of third-degree Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
One count of second-degree Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance and one count of fourth-degree Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Alek Quinones, 25, Long Branch, was charged with one count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, five counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, five counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Two counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute within a School Zone, two counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance within a School Zone, one count of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute.
One count of second degree of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, three counts of third-degree Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
One count of second-degree Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and six counts of third-degree Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Laryssa Rodriguez, 21, of Neptune Township, was charged with two counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, and fourth-degree Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The investigation was led by a Task Force Officer on loan from the Long Branch Police Department. The Task Force Officer is assigned to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section.
“We must maintain our focus on those people who are moving drugs into our communities and creating havoc on our streets and in our own neighborhoods. These arrests are a great example of how the combined efforts of law enforcement garner tangible results,” Gramiccioni said.
The case is assigned to Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Merlin K. Thomas.