Four months of investigating drug activity in and around Long Branch and Neptune Township has led to three arrests in Monmouth County, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

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 executed search warrants on Wednesday at residences in the 3600 block of State Route 33 in Neptune Township and the 200 block of 6th Avenue in Long Branch along with 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.

During the course of this investigation, Alek Quinones, 25, Long Branch was identified as a suspect distributing cocaine in an aggregate quantity of over ½ ounce on five separate occasions in Long Branch.

The investigation revealed Anthony Vamvas, 28, was the supplier of cocaine for Quinones, and Vamvas stored the cocaine in Laryssa Rodriguez’s, 21, Neptune Township apartment.

Vamvas is 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.

Quinones is 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.

Rodriguez is 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.

 

“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," Prosecutor Gramiccioni said. "These arrests are a great example of how the combined efforts of law enforcement garner tangible results."

The case is assigned to Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Merlin K. Thomas.

If convicted of any first degree crimes, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison and subject to a parole ineligibility period of up to one half of that sentence.

If convicted of any second degree crimes, they each face a sentence of five to ten years in state prison.

If convicted of any third degree offenses, they each face a sentence of three to five years in state prison, and a fourth degree conviction carries a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison.

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