Authorities say Kevin O. Ruiz, 23, of Elmwood Park, made daily deliveries of heroin and cocaine in several northern New Jersey counties.
MORRISTOWN -- Eighteen people have been arrested in connection with a heroin and crack cocaine distribution ring operating in several northern New Jersey counties, authorities said.
Starting in Oct. 2016, authorities began investigating the alleged daily importation and sale of drugs into Morris County by Kevin O. Ruiz, 23, of Elmwood Park, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said in a news release.
Ruiz, also known as "Star," ran "a profitable drug distribution network in which he personally delivered heroin and crack cocaine to customers daily in Bergen, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, Knapp said.
Ruiz's customers would then resell the heroin and crack in their home towns, such as Jefferson, Rockaway Township, Hackettstown, Hackensack and other areas, he said.
Ruiz, according to Knapp, is believed to have directly distributed in the aggregate more than 4,000 individual doses, known as folds, of heroin, and more than 130 packages of crack cocaine. The estimated street value is $12,000.
Investigators executed arrest warrants on March 17 throughout Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties, and arrested 15 people and seized 210 doses of heroin, 16 bags of crack cocaine, $2,800 in cash, a stolen handgun and six motor vehicles, Knapp said.
Both the cash and the vehicles may be subject to civil forfeiture actions, he said.
Those arrested in the bust and their charges are included below:
- Kevin O. Ruiz, 23, of Elmwood Park faces numerous charges of conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin, cocaine and Percocet along with possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense.
- Jashawn Holloway, also known as "Slime," 31, of Paterson, faces several charges of conspiracy heroin and cocaine possession and distribution.
- Charles E. Nassor, 56, of Hackensack, faces several charges of conspiracy heroin and Percocet possession and distribution.
- Keith R. Fitzgerald, 24, of Oak Ridge, was charged with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin.
- Heather L. Baer, 35, of Hackettstown, was charged with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin and cocaine.
- Richard R. Wagner, 44, of Andover, was charged with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin and cocaine.
- Richard Copeland, 33, of Newton, was charged with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin.
- Dana L. Keim, 22, of Newton, was charged with conspiracy possession of heroin.
- Kelly L. Burnette, 52, of Rockaway, was charged with conspiracy to possess and conspiracy possession of heroin.
- Garret J. Burnette, 25, of Rockaway, was charged with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin.
- Sheryl A. Onder, 55, of Seaside, was charged with conspiracy possession of heroin and cocaine.
- Jessica M. Roberts, 35, of Mine Hill, was charged with conspiracy to possess heroin and cocaine.
- Jassmine J. Royal, 27, of Elmwood Park, was charged with conspiracy to possess heroin and cocaine.
- Melissa K. Gansz, 28, of Hopatcong, was charged with conspiracy possession of heroin.
- Michael P. Monteverdi, 25, of Oak Ridge, was charged with conspiracy possession of heroin.
- Markella I. Strongilos, 26, of Sparta, was charged with with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin and cocaine.
- Sean H. Meekel, 28, of Lake Hopatcong, was charged with conspiracy possession and distribution of heroin and cocaine.
- Travis J. Schneider, 29, Vernon, was charged with conspiracy possession of heroin.
Ruiz, pursuant to the Bail Reform law, was released on a pretrial monitoring level III with home detention, electronic monitoring and weekly reporting by phone and in person every other week to pretrial services, Knapp said.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.