OCEAN COUNTY – A two-month investigation led to a drug raid and four arrests in several county municipalities.
Yolonda Richardson, 37, of South Toms River, Kimberly Tolbert, 51, and Fatinah Dillard, 25, both of Toms River, and Jamal Barney, 19, of Berkeley, were arrested for their part in what police described as “a large-scale heroin/fentanyl and cocaine distribution network.”
Search warrants were issued back in December for three locations in those townships. The warrants were issued because of an investigation involving fentanyl distribution by Philip Tarver, who was arrested in Brick on Feb. 8 on drug and ammunition charges.
More than a half kilogram of cocaine, two hundred grams of crack cocaine, several ounces of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and MDMA were seized during the raids. Officers uncovered a heroin manufacturing and packaging facility in South Toms River, which has commonly used to “cut” heroin and fentanyl and numerous empty bags used to distribute heroin. More than $210,000 was also seized, as well as a loaded handgun.
Richardson was charged with first-degree possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, first-degree maintaining a heroin manufacturing facility, possession of cocaine and crack cocaine and possession of marijuana.
Tarver, Tolbert and Dillard were charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin/fentanyl, possession of a firearm during a CDS offense and possession of MDMA.
Barney was charged with possession of heroin and possession of marijuana.
The Monmouth Ocean HIDTA Task Force, New Jersey State Police, Toms River Police Department, Berkeley Police Department, South Toms River Police Department, and DEA SRT were involved with the raids and arrests.
