Four individuals were arrested in Ocean County, New Jersey, according to a news release by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer on Tuesday, Mar. 5. The arrested individuals include 33-year-old Orthis Allen from Bayville, 33-year-old Ashley Banks from Brick, and two 23-year-olds named Lauren Torres and Anthony Martinez from Toms River.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents collaborated with Ocean County investigators and local police to conduct a thorough two-month-long investigation into the distribution of illegal drugs in Ocean County. As a result of the investigation, three residences in Brick Township, Toms River, and South Toms River were identified.
On Tuesday, February 27, investigators initiated surveillance on the residences. During the operation, Allen and Banks were observed departing the Brick Township home in a 2020 Dodge Durango. Subsequently, the Brick Township police conducted a traffic stop, resulting in the arrest of the two individuals.
During the operation, law enforcement authorities carried out search warrants at the three residences. At the Brick Township home, officers discovered and confiscated approximately 150 suspected ecstasy pills and around 41 grams of suspected cocaine.
Torres and Martinez faced arrest at their Toms River residence when law enforcement officials conducted a search. During the search, authorities discovered approximately 100 wax folds containing suspected heroin laced with fentanyl, along with 15 suspected ecstasy pills. Additionally, a digital scale and various drug-dealing paraphernalia were also found at the location.
From the Toms River home, authorities seized two fully loaded 9mm firearms, one of which had a high-capacity magazine. However, no evidence was discovered at the South Toms River residence.
Allen faced a multitude of charges, including distributing MDMA, cocaine, and heroin. He was also accused of possessing these substances with the intent to distribute. Furthermore, he was charged with conspiring to possess and distribute MDMA, cocaine, and heroin. In addition to the drug-related charges, Allen was found in possession of MDMA, cocaine, and heroin. He was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm during the commission of a narcotics offense, being a certain person prohibited from possessing a weapon, and possessing a high-capacity magazine.
Banks faced multiple charges, including possession of MDMA with the intention to distribute, possession of cocaine with the intention to distribute, conspiracy to possess MDMA with the intention to distribute, conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intention to distribute, possession of MDMA, and possession of cocaine.
Torres faced multiple charges including possession of MDMA, cocaine, and heroin with the intent to distribute. Additionally, he was charged with conspiracy to possess heroin with the intent to distribute. In total, he was found in possession of MDMA, cocaine, and heroin.
Martinez faced charges of conspiring to possess MDMA with the intention of distributing it. Prior to their initial court appearances in Ocean County Superior Court, Banks, Martinez, and Torres were issued summonses.
Allen found himself in custody at the Ocean County Jail.
