TRENTON, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man today
admitted that he conspired to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin as part
of a conspiracy responsible for distributing significant quantities of heroin
and cocaine in the Bayshore area of Monmouth and Middlesex counties, U.S.
Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Richard Gethers, a/k/a “Richie,” a/k/a “Bart,” 47, of Perth
Amboy, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R.
Martinotti in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one
count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100
grams or more of heroin. Gethers also admitted to conspiring to distribute and
possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.
In November 2018, Gethers and 14 others were charged in a
federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.
Gethers is the third defendant to plead guilty.
According to documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
From May 2017 to November 2018, the defendants and others
engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated in the Raritan Bayshore region
of Middlesex and northern Monmouth counties.
Through the interception of telephone calls and text
messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, controlled purchases of
heroin and cocaine, the use of confidential sources of information, and other
investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that Gethers and
co-defendants Guy Jackson and Deberal Rogers regularly obtained supplies of
large quantities of heroin and cocaine for further distribution from Gregory
Gillens. Lashawn Mealing, Jackson’s wife, also engaged in the conspiracy to
distribute narcotics.
Members of the conspiracy sold the narcotics to other
conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end-users in the Bayshore area.
Some of the heroin distributed by the conspiracy contains fentanyl, a dangerous
synthetic opioid.
The heroin conspiracy count to which Gethers pleaded guilty
carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a
maximum potential penalty of 40 years, and a maximum fine of $5 million.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 8, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, Jersey Shore Gang and Criminal
Organization Task Force (including representatives from the Bradley Beach
Police Department, Brick Police Department, Howell Police Department, Marlboro
Police Department, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Toms River Police Department,
and Union Beach Police Department) under the direction of Special Agent in
Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; special agents of the FBI, Philadelphia Division,
Scranton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge
Michael T. Harpster; the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick
J. Callahan, Superintendent; the Matawan Police Department, under the direction
of Chief Thomas J. Falco, Jr.; the Holmdel Police Department, under the
direction of Chief John Mioduszewski; the Highlands Police Department, under
the direction of Chief Robert Burton; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office,
under the direction of Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni;
the Old Bridge Police Department, under the direction of Chief William A. Volkert;
the Keansburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief James K. Pigott;
the Hazlet Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Meehan; and
the Aberdeen Police Department, under the direction of Chief John T. Powers,
with the investigation leading to today’s plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations against the remaining 12
defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: David R. Oakley Esq., Princeton, New Jersey
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