FREEHOLD – Candy laced with dangerous narcotics was the root of a multi-state drug operation which Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced had been shut down following a yearlong investigation involving more than 30 law enforcement agencies.
Gramiccioni, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives John G. McCabe and Middletown Police Chief Craig Weber joined Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and members of the Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Unit during a press conference on January 7 at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office headquarters.
Gramiccioni said he was stunned by the scope of the large-scale marijuana and THC distribution network operating throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties as well as parts of New York which resulted in charges being filed against 24 men and women. Anthony Dalessandro of California remains at large and is being sought by authorities.
The investigation, which culminated with the execution of over a dozen search warrants in Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties on December 19 was dubbed Operation On The Ropes. It uncovered a scheme to secretly convert legitimate candies, including the popular Nerds Rope and South Patch candy brands, to an illegal THC-infused substance. THC also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance used to create most of marijuana’s “high.” Gramiccioni described the THC as being in a liquid form and infused into the candy.
“I am proud to announce the complete dismantling of a major drug trafficking network operating out of the western portion of Monmouth County. In total the street value of the items seized exceeds $2 million,” Gramiccioni said. “One million of that $2 million was the marijuana edibles alone.”
Gramiccioni said that approximately 21,000 pieces of candy infused with suspected THC, 1,100 pounds of suspected marijuana, and over 6,000 flavored THC vape cartages, all with an estimated street value of $1.9 million were confiscated.
“The network operators used regular candy to further their scheme, buying hundreds of boxes of product from wholesalers before transporting it to a processing facility where they would unwrap the individual pieces of candy, lay it out on trays and then spray the candy with a concentrated formula of THC distillate. Once the THC dried on the candy it was repackaged as an illegal marijuana edibles product for distribution across New Jersey.”
A warehouse on Park Avenue in Manalapan Township and a hangar at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township were used as part of the illegal operation for storage and production purposes. The approximate 21,000 pieces of candy were manufactured with unknown amounts of THC and totals over 100,000 individual doses. The THC products that were processed were then intermingled with THC products that the network operators illegally trafficked into the state from a supplier in California. The THC products have an estimated street value of nearly $900,000.
McCabe said “the packaging on this THC laced ‘candy’ is almost indistinguishable from regular drug store candy. Your kids may be getting high right before your eyes, if you are not paying close attention.”
“This illegal operation makes juveniles and anyone who consumes these products susceptible to random levels of drug toxicity. In my 33-year career in law enforcement I have never seen anything like this. They are preying on our most precious asset, our children. I have two children of my own,” McCabe said.
Also seized were machines and paraphernalia used to repackage and repurpose the legitimate candies as marijuana-related edible products. The investigation did not reveal use of the airport to transport any of the illegal drugs to other areas inside or outside of New Jersey.
The drugs seized included 1,200 THC-infused Sour Patch Watermelon candy packages labeled “Stoner Patch” edibles; 6,250 “Baked Burgerz” edibles; 3,111 TCH-infused “Nerd Ropes,” individually repackaged in red, pink, yellow and blue wrappers; 1,151 Tic Tac-type containers without labels; and numerous boxes and trays of Nerd Ropes in various stages of the infusion process; as well as 6,542 THC vape cartridges in 16 different flavors.
Weber, who is also the president of the Monmouth County Chiefs Association, said “the operation used their own wrappers and labels to repackage the drug-infused candy. There were no sanitary measures taken, no safety apparatus, and there were certainly were no standards in knowing exactly what they were ingesting.”
A total of $10,151,711 in assets, $1,483,859 in cash, and 21 high-end luxury vehicles including cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes Benz, with an estimated total value of around $2,783,445, were also seized as part of the criminal investigation.
Gramiccioni commended all of the agencies whose combined cooperation and partnership complimented the successful completion of Operation On The Ropes.
Billhimer said following the press conference that his office were glad to assist with the investigation and commended the overall probe that closed down the operation. “Everyone did a great job. It is concerning to see something like this. We do have a vaping problem in Ocean County and throughout the state.”
Arrested were:
- Dylon J. Addvensky, 27, of Freehold Borough: first degree Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network, second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Knowingly Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 Grams.
- Eric L. Karlewicz, a/k/a Anthony Mazza 40, of Colts Neck: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.
- Nicco C. Romanowski, 27, of Freehold Township: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.
- Anthony Dalessandro, 30, of Los Angeles, California: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish with Intent to Distribute, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 Grams. D’Alessandro remains at-large and is considered a fugitive from justice.
- Ariel Baez, 45, of Lodi, New Jersey: first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.
- Mathew R. Caracappa, 24, of Freehold Township: second degree Conspiracy, first degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Knowingly Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and/or Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 Grams.
- Lawrence A. Cella, 28, of Jackson Township, is charged with second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish.
- Lee D’Avanzo, 52, of Staten Island, New York, is charged with fourth degree Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana, fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.
- Nicholas A. D’Ambrosio, 28, of Manalapan: third degree Possession of Cocaine and a disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams.
- Alfonse D’Ambrosio, 26, of Howell Township: third degree possession of Anabolic Steroids, fourth degree Resisting Arrest, fourth degree Possession of Examestane without a Prescription.
- Angelynn J. Fecso, of Colts Neck: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.
- Matthew V. Filosa, 28, of Freehold Borough: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and/or Hashish fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 grams.
- Paul G. Hobbs, 27, of Jackson Township: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and/or Hashish fourth degree Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 50 grams.
- Richard C. Chamas, 43, of Jackson Township: a disorderly persons offense of Obstruction of the lawful arrest of Paul G. Hobbs.
- Ryan D. Hult, 39, of Riverdale in Morris County: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 grams.
- Jason M. Lambros, 21, of Point Pleasant Beach: disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Joseph A. Mari, 28, of Voorhees Township: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, second degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.
- Gianna P. Mazzone, 23, of Egg Harbor Township: third degree Possession of Cocaine and a disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Marijuana under 50 grams.
- John T. Page, 25, of the Mickleton section of Greenwich Township: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana and hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.
- Hannah R. Olstein, 25, Freehold Township: fourth degree Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams and a disorderly persons offense of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Daniel J. Riley, 25, of Brick Township: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 25 pounds, first degree Maintaining and Operating a Facility for the Production of Marijuana, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and/or Hashish in Excess of 50 grams.
- Kevin M. Shields, 31 of Jackson Township: second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, first degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.
- Alexa L. Stimpfel, 27, of Freehold Borough: fourth degree Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams.
- Matthew C. Tracy, 27, of Jackson Township: fourth degree Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana and Hashish, and fourth degree Possession of Marijuana and Hashish.
The people accused are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Police continue to investigate the finances of the group. Anyone who has information about certain businesses are urged to call Capt. Maria Reverendo of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, at 1-800-533-7443. The companies are: Empire Pain Center, Empire Power and Gas Holdings, Global Empire International Holdings, Supreme Lead Generations, Platinum Communication Services, Platinum Funding Associates, Jenza Properties, LLC, and Dynasty Property Holdings.
Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.
