Police Dispatcher Among the 25 Charged in Drug Ring Busts [VIDEO]

A Toms River woman working as a police dispatcher in Lavallette was among the many arrested and charged in connection with a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Monday. 

Residents from Toms River, Brick, Manchester, Lakewood and other New Jersey towns are among those charged. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected, Coronato said. 

Known as "Operation Road Runner," the investigation began in August of last year and ended on Friday, April 5, as police executed search warrants in Ocean, Mercer, Essex and Monmouth counties, leading authorities to charge 25 individuals with various drug, weapons and money laundering offenses, the prosecutor said. 

Kathy Anne Graham, 57, of King George Lane in Toms River, was charged after she allegedly warned others of "impending apprehension by law enforcement in connection of crimes of the second degree or greater," Coronato said. Bail for Graham, who works as a Lavallette police dispatcher, was set at $35,000 with a ten percent option. 

"Today is just the first of many successful multi-jurisdictional cooperative investigations that the Special Operations Group will be responsible for during my tenure as County Prosecutor," Coronato said in a statement. "The success of this investigation is a direct result of the cooperation between the federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies that participated in this operation. I am heartened by the dedication of those individuals and agencies that participated."

Authorities recovered over twenty pounds of marijuana, large quantities of MDMA (known as Ecstasy), prescription pills including Oxycodone, Roxicet, Zanax, Methadone and Suboxone, multiple firearms including a loaded Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum handgun, a loaded 9mm American Tactical pistol, a Weatherby 7mm rifle, large quantities of LSD and psilocybin mushrooms as well as approximately $91,000 in cash, according to Coronato. 

The investigation also yielded the seizure of 15 vehicles allegedly used for drug distribution. They are pending forfeiture proceedings, according to Coronato.

Police also seized several bank accounts that they said contain proceeds from this alleged drug network, one of which contained about $70,000 in drug proceeds, Coronato said. Investigation into bank accounts is ongoing and totals could change. 

Drug paraphernalia, including packaging and distribution materials and electronic scales were also seized in the raids, according to the prosecutor. 

The investigation revealed that the United States Postal Service allegedly was used to distributed drugs in small quantities, which lowers transportation costs, increases distribution frequency and minimizes risk of detection by law enforcement, said 

Robert G. Koval, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency's New Jersey Dvision. 

"The collective persistence, diligence, and dedicated law enforcement efforts exhibited by all the participants is exceptionally noteworthy and greatly appreciated by DEA," Koval said in a statement. 

Those arrested, and their charges, include:

Jeremy Zahn, 25, of Brick:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering), Conspiracy to commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering) and Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Zahn at $500,000 cash.

Mary Zahn, 51, Manchester: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Mary Zahn at $50,000, no 10 percent.

Miguel Serrano, 21, Brick:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana and Conspiracy to commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering). State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Serrano Jr. at $100,000, no 10 percent.

Bryan Suzuki, 21, Toms River: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams, Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and Possession of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) with Intent to Distribute.  State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Brian Suzuki Jr. at $100,000, no 10 percent.

Christian Suzuki, 22, Toms River: Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Suzuki was released on a summons.

Richard M. Rodriguez, 22, Toms River: Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams and Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Rodriguez was released on a summons.

Ian Elkins, 23, Manchester: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Elkins at $50,000, no 10 percent.

Matthew C. Humbert, 28, Manchester: Possession of Anabolic Steroids. Humbert was released on a summons.

Jonathan A. Watts, 28, Manchester: Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Watts was released on a summons.

Nicholas Santillo, 22, Lakewood: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Santillo at $50,000, no 10 percent.

Jacob Prestia, 29, Toms River: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Conspiracy to commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering), Possession of Anabolic Steroids, Possession of marijuana with Intent to distribute and Possession of Marijuana over fifty grams. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Serrano Jr. at $150,000, no 10 percent.

Jenny Thompson, 25, Jackson: Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams and Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Thompson was released on a summons.

Stephen P. Regan, 46, Toms River: Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams and Possession of Marijuana over 50 grams but less than five pounds with Intent to Distribute. Regan was released on a summons.

Deven Skyers, 19, Toms River: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Skyers at $75,000, no 10 percent.

Joseph Schmidt, 26, Toms River: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Packaging Materials and Digital Scales). State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Schmidt at $50,000 no 10 percent.

Michael Battista, 28, Toms River: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms, Possession of MDMA (Ecstasy), Possession of MDMA (Ecstasy) with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Hashish. Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Battista at $50,000 no ten percent.

Caitlin E. Dohrenwend, 26, Tinton Falls: Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones and 1 Suboxone), Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones) with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Dohreenwend was released on a summons.

Shawn Hannon, 26, Tinton Falls: Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones and 1 Suboxone), Possession of CDS (30 Oxycodones) with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Hannon at $35,000, with the 10 percent option.

Michael E. Boggess, 28, Cookstown: Possession of CDS (Oxycodone). Boggess was released on a summons.

Tyler Sargent, 21, Seaside Park: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson  set bail for Mr. Sargent at $50,000, no 10 percent.

William Thomas, 27, Brick: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Thomas at $50,000, no 10 percent.

Kellee Graham, 28, Toms River: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana. State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Graham at $75,000, no 10 percent.

Kathy Anne Graham, 57, Toms River: Hindering the detention, apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction and/or punishment of Jeremy Zahn and others by warning Kelle Graham, Jeremy Zahn and others of impending apprehension by law enforcement in connection of crimes of the second degree or greater. 

State Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set bail for Graham at $35,000, with the 10 percent option.

Melissa Amos age 22 of 28 4th Bay Way, Toms River NJ: Possession of CDS (Alprazolam), Possession of CDS (Alprazolam) with intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to distribute, Possession of a firearm specifically a loaded Smith and Wesson .44 Caliber Handgun and a loaded 9mm American Tactical Handgun while committing a CDS offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Packaging Materials and a Scale). The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Ms. Amos at $100,000 cash.

Frank Casulli age 25 of 28 4th Bay Way, Toms River NJ: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds of Marijuana, Possession of CDS (Alprazolam), Possession of CDS (Alprazolam) with intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to distribute, Possession of a firearm specifically a loaded Smith and Wesson .44 Caliber Handgun and a loaded 9mm American Tactical Handgun while committing a CDS offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Packaging Materials and a Scale). The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Casulli at $35,000 no ten percent for the Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over five pounds charge. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson JSC set bail for Mr. Casulli at $100,000 cash for the remaining charges.