Three Arrested After 4-Month Probe of Drug Activity

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, 2020, 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.  During the course of 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.

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.

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 www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com

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.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

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