OCEAN COUNTY – A two-month investigation led to the shutdown of a drug manufacturing facility, police said.
The following were arrested and are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
- Ronald Lawrence, 30, of Barnegat: Maintaining a Controlled Dangerous Substance Manufacturing/Production Facility; Possession of Heroin over one half ounce with Intent to Distribute; Distribution of Heroin over one half ounce; Possession of Heroin; Possession of Cocaine; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Denisha Nash, 30, of Barnegat: Conspiracy to Distribute over one half ounce of Heroin; 2 counts of Possession of Heroin; Possession of Heroin less than one half ounce with Intent to Distribute; Distribution of Heroin less than one half ounce; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Carol Ann Budinski, 36, of Toms River: Conspiracy to Distribute over one half ounce of Heroin; Possession of Heroin; Possession of Cocaine; Possession of Heroin less than one half ounce with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of Cocaine less than one half ounce with Intent to Distribute.
- Leashan Coleman, 29, of Barnegat: Conspiracy to Distribute over one half ounce of Heroin; Possession of Heroin; Possession of Heroin less than one half ounce with the Intent to Distribute; and Distribution of Heroin less than one half ounce.
Their arrests come at the end of a multi-department investigation into drug distribution in the southern part of the county.
Police executed a no-knock search warrant at the Barnegat residence of Ronald Lawrence and Denisha Nash at 465 North Main Street, which is listed online as part of an apartment complex. At the same time, they pulled over a 2014 Kia driven by Carol Ann Budinski in the area of Route 37 and Mule Road in Toms River. They found cocaine in that vehicle. Leashan Coleman was determined to be involved in the drug trafficking as well, and was later arrested at her home in Barnegat.
As a result of these arrests, police seized approximately 1,250 glassine envelopes of heroin, approximately 20 grams of cocaine, approximately $1,600 in cash and assorted items associated with the distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances and the maintaining of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Manufacturing/Production Facility, including new glassine packets, sifters, stamps, rubber bands and other packaging paraphernalia.
Participating in the arrests were Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Barnegat Township Police Department, Lacey Township Drug Enforcement Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lacey Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Stafford Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Toms River Police Department, and the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team.
